The fate of Kenilworth Public School is a concern for local parents, including several who raised issues at the first accommodation review public meeting last week.
About 50 people attended the May 15 meeting organized by the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB), which is conducting a review of three schools within the Wellington North municipal boundary: Kenilworth Public, Arthur Public and Victoria Cross Public in Mount Forest.
Two options being explored by the accommodation review committee include maintaining the status quo or closing Kenilworth Public School, with students being split between the Arthur and Mount Forest schools.
The first public meeting on the process was held at Wellington Heights Secondary School in Mount Forest on May 15, with a second meeting set for June 17 at 7pm at the Arthur school. The public meetings are part of the accommodation process, which will see a final decision made by the board in February.
UGDSB senior planner Heather Imm and manager of planning Jennifer Passy told those at the meeting about the process required by the ministry of education regarding accommodation reviews.
They explained plans to build out Kenilworth Public School (KPS) to house full-time kindergarten students starting in September will be put on hold until a decision is made about the school’s future.
Passy said the accommodation review was triggered by declining enrolment at KPS, which now sits at about 100 students.
Imm said the rural school needs about $650,000 in roof and electrical work and an estimated $250,000 for the kindergarten addition.
Parent Laurie Ball, who has twins about to enter kindergarten this fall, wanted to know whether facilities would be ready for them. Ball was told exterior equipment for the incoming kindergarten students would be in place, while interior equipment is being put on hold pending the board’s final decision on the school.
The issue of the leaking roof was also raised, with one school supporter chastising the board for not spending the money on roof repairs earlier.
“Shame on the board for not holding Kenilworth up to a higher standard,” the supporter said.
Supporters also maintain the Kenilworth school provides students with greater one-on-one attention than larger schools.
“The $650,000 – it just boggles my mind why this has just come up,” parent Don Irvine said. “I haven’t seen a lot of money going into this school in the last 10 years.”
Irvine said closing Kenilworth and having students bussed to Mount Forest and Arthur, “is just going to create more problems.”
Board staff said transportation costs are not expected to increase over what it currently costs to bus students to KPS each day.
Imm said part of the board decision will be to determine costs related to school upgrades in Mount Forest and Arthur to handle new students coming from Kenilworth.
“What we have to consider is the condition of those schools to accommodate the children,” she said.
Passy added, “The accommodation review process is meant to be an extensive review of all the accommodation options.”
UGDSB trustee Bruce Schieck said the two options being explored could change as the process moves ahead.
Concern was also raised about the use of portables at the two other schools if Kenilworth is closed. Board officials said the board regularly tests and maintains its portables to the same level as its interior classrooms.
