Article From The Blyth Citizen

ARC suggests super school http://www.northhuron.on.ca/news.htm (Jan 29, 2009)

By Brenda Radford

"The third public mandated meeting of the Accommodation Review Committee for five schools along the Hwy. 4 corridor, considered the North East Central Huron group, was held at Wingham Public School on Thursday, Jan. 22. The schools in question are Hullett Central in Londesborough, Blyth Public, East Wawanosh Public in Belgrave, Wingham Public and Turnberry Central.This meeting proved to be an exciting change from the previous two. School groups had been encouraged to ‘think outside the box’ when presenting scenarios. Since the last meeting the community support persons from all five schools had been burning the midnight oil and the scenario they presented to everyone gathered in the Wingham school auditorium was just that kind. Members of all the ARC groups recognized that these reviews can become quite territorial. Although each school area is a separate entity, in a rural area as small as the one under review, the people involved now have and will continue to have contact through business, social activities, sports, etc. A community support member from each school took part in their scenario, the North Maitland Educational Centre of Exellence. David Sparling, Mark Beaven, Robert Hunking, Sue Underwood and Connie Goodall presented a concept paper for the construction of ‘a super school’. They proposed that in 2010 construction begin on a ‘state of the art’ educational facility to accommodate all pupils from Blyth, East Wawanosh, Wingham and Turnberry. They suggested everyone affected should have input into how this school should be rather than accepting an engineer’s concept. They talked about the latest in classrooms and teaching areas, a cafeteria, a computer lab and library, expanded arts programs, etc. Their united front was to impress upon the trustees that the children’s future is what is important and their desire to keep Grades 7 and 8 out of area high schools.Although this presentation still needs fine tuning they proposed a 120,000 to 150,000-square foot school to house 1,000 students. Such a school would cost in t he area of $175 a square foot or $21 to $26 million.The presenters encouraged the trustees to consider the prospect from a positive outlook, rather than looking for negatives.Following the presentation, AMDSB superintendent Mike Ash noted that the board is currently lobbying the governments for money for North Huron schools. This was in contrast to the previous meeting when trustees seemed to suggest that no money was likely to be forthcoming for new schools in a rural area of declining enrollment.A funding model was included in the presentation. Some, they suggested, would come from three areas of government. The municipal representative from Morris-Turnberry, Jim Nelemans, however remarked that the group was presumptuous in assuming that the rest of the ratepayers in his constituency would be willing to fund this school.Other monies would be found from the sale of the properties of the closed schools, operational savings, private donations and grants. For example, they see the school incorporating all modern environmental aspects which would qualify them for “green” grants.The community-support persons also proposed that teachers be allowed to be a part of the consultation process recognizing that their input would be invaluable. Currently board/union employees are advised to stay clear of this review process. However, as the community would be asked to give input, teachers are a part of that community, it was noted.The ARC members asked for an extension of time, until March 12 to add details to their proposal. They hoped to take the proposal back to their communities to clarify the details to the general public and get input.It was impressed upon the trustees/board members that they need to help the process with the facts and figures represented of them. Ash assured them of that support.Trustees Colleen Schenk and Shelley Kaastra commended the group for a visionary proposal and a comfortable, thought-provoking evening.Hullett Central Public School the only school to date, which had not done so already gave a presentation worked on by SAC and ARC members. The presentation included a letter of commendation from Brian Cretney, an author who found his recent visit to the school a memorable one.Alex Westerhout, a Hullett School parent, asked why Hullett had been left out of this proposal. Hunking gave a three-fold answer. The scenario was based on not having Grade 7 and 8 pupils not going to F.E. Madill. Hullett pupils would reasonably go into Clinton high schools and the Hullett ARC members have always questioned why they were included in this review anyway. Moreover, it stands to reason that if a location for the new school were in the Blyth area, Hullett might be involved. This proposal is an expanded version of the one proposed by Turnberry at a previous meeting.David Sparling stated that “Everybody here wants to get something better for our kids. We need genuine support to reach a most responsible end (to this review process). We need to hear from the communities, ‘Are we going down the right path?’The next meeting will be held on Feb. 12 at East Wawanosh."

Enrollment Data ARC ~~ Projected and Links To Accommodation Review

The intention of this post is to encapsulate the highlights and issues from past meetings, they reside on the yourschools.ca website as well, but obviously, judging by blog traffic, some people might want the links here as well. Hopefully this forum will allow for discussion as well as viewing of the information, for those who are new to the discussion and those who have been previously engaged.

http://www.yourschools.ca/accommodation/CENH-Arc/documents/ARCEnrolmentData.pdf

This link gives an idea of student enrollment in the public schools and projected trends, for those who have not already seen the numbers.


The link below has minutes of meetings of the Central East North Huron Area Accommodation Review.

http://www.yourschools.ca/accommodation/CENH-Arc/CENHarc.htm


These links are available from the http://www.yourschools.ca/ site, yet, it is nice to have them mirrored here as well. As they were in PDF format, I was unable to copy and paste. I encourage everyone to read these over if they have not already.


Also a quote from the website:

http://www.yourschools.ca/accommodation/


"2008 - 2009 Accommodation Review - November 4, 2008
Select this link for the North Huron ARC
Select this link for the Usborne Central ARC

Board Identifies Two Areas for Accommodation ReviewAfter receiving and discussing the Preliminary Pupil Accommodation Analysis for 2008 – 2009, Trustees have voted to begin the Accommodation Review process in two areas. The Board will begin an accommodation review and establish an Accommodation Review Committee for the area including Blyth Public School, East Wawanosh Public School, Hullett Central Public School, Turnberry Central Public School, and Wingham Public School. The Board also decided to begin an accommodation review process and establish an Accommodation Review Committee for Usborne Central Public School.

Board Policy No.18 – Pupil Accommodation Reviews, requires an annual preliminary analysis of accommodation data, which may include:
the Ministry of Education capacity for each school,
the level of actual occupancy as a percentage of Ministry of Education capacity,
the current and projected enrolment in each school,
other information or special circumstances that the director of education may deem relevant, and recommendations to the board regarding which school(s), if any, should be placed under review and the circumstances that support this review.

An accommodation review may result in such changes as: changes to the grades offered in a school, closures, and/or any other practical solutions to overcrowded, underutilized, or inadequate school facilities. Over the past four years the provincial government has added significant amounts of money to the education system in Ontario, and this has benefited the Avon Maitland District School Board. However, cost pressures continue to exist. Since the 2001-2002 school year enrolments have declined by 13.9% in the elementary panel. Over a 10-year period enrolments are projected to decline by a further 6.5% in the elementary schools.


Deciding to undertake an accommodation review in a community or series of communities must be based on many different factors. They may include:

Current and projected enrollment of the schools in relation to school rate capacity.
Condition of buildings (including accessibility for the disabled), and anticipated costs to maintain the buildings.

The ability of trustees and staff to adequately supply information during an accommodation review to communities as needed where multiple communities are identified and the readiness of the communities to engage in a dialogue with the board about accommodation related issues.
In 2007 - 2008 there was significant excess capacity in these North Huron region elementary schools.The enrolment for the region where Usborne Central Public School is located along with Exeter Public School, South Perth Centennial Public School and Stephen Central Public School also continues to decline. Over the past five years the combined enrolments in these four elementary schools has dropped 22% and is projected to decline another 6.4% in 2008 - 2009. Over the past five years the enrolment in Usborne Central Public School has dropped 38% and is projected to decline another 6.4% in 2008 - 2009."

"North Maitland Educational Centre Of Excellence" Post #1

This blog is intended to be a means of communication between those interested in the "North Maitland Educational Centre Of Excellence." This is an area where the residents of the proposed school can derive concrete answers and information. The idea that a school serving the North Maitland area of Huron County, Ontario, will take in approximately seven hundred and fifty students from JK to 8, is a beneficial one. Parents, grandparents, guardians, and children, will have the opportunity for more diverse learning experiences and the ability to access more special needs services. The "North Maitland Educational Centre of Excellence" will be a springboard for our children to thrive in a modern facility brimming with opportunity for success. This proposed school would replace Wingham, Turnberry, Blyth and East Wawanosh schools. Hullet School is out of the district area, and would not be a part of the "North Maitland Educational Centre Of Excellence."

Please refer to the information located here for your perusal:

http://www.yourschools.ca/accommodation/CENH-Arc/documents/CENH-ArcPresentation.pdf

Comments will be moderated, and ISP's will be tracked as to prevent spam, questions are always welcome, and moderators will try to the best of our ability and information at hand to answer the questions. Posts may be edited by moderators to reflect timely information.