The second of three staff reports related to the Wellington North elementary school accommodation review has been released for information.
The report provides background information on the three public schools being reviewed: Arthur, Kenilworth and Victoria Cross in Mount Forest.
It also provides development and population trends of the Wellington North area, current and projected enrolment, and draft school profiles.
The staff report is the starting point for an Accommodation Review Committee comprised of school, municipal, community and trustee representatives.
At the conclusion of the review the committee must make a recommendation to the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB), which will make a final decision.
The two options presented in the report are maintain the status quo or close Kenilworth, and re-assign JK to Grade 6 students to Arthur and Victoria Cross. There would be no change for Grade 7 and 8 students, who already attend those two schools.
The report recognizes that Kenilworth is not an “underutilized” school, but notes the small capacity and enrolment makes it more costly to operate, maintain and renew on a per-pupil basis.
The school opened in 1961 with six classrooms, but one of those rooms is now used as a library.
The report also considers the impact of school size on instruction, and outlines programming criteria.
“Quality education is the principle goal of the [UGDSB],” states the report. “When planning accommodation for the future, programming implications are at the forefront of all decisions.”
The report was to be presented to the Business Operations Committee on May 13. It was also to be presented at the first of four public meetings on May 15 at 7pm in the gym at Wellington Heights Secondary School in Mount Forest.
A copy is available on the board’s website: www.ugdsb.on.ca/wnar Hard copies of the report are also available to view at the three Wellington North elementary schools, the municipal office and at the Arthur and Mount Forest public libraries.
The accommodation review’s webpage also includes a form to submit comments, and an opportunity to subscribe to email alerts.
