The walkway through the site of the former Harriston Senior Public School site will be closed to students who use it to access Minto-Clifford Public School beginning in September.
Construction and grading of the site, which is being developed for residential use, “means it is not an appropriate location for students to access Minto-Clifford,” states the Upper Grand District School board in an Aug. 21 press release.
Students are being asked to walk along Arthur Street (Highway 89) to Laurence Avenue, and cross through the parking lot of St. Thomas Catholic Church to arrive at school. The church diocese has agreed to let the students use the parking lot.
Shelly Grose, the school’s principal, has said the school board will be installing a fence to prevent the students from entering the construction site.
“We care about the safety of our students, and while this will affect many of them, it’s just not safe to have children crossing the construction site while work is ongoing,” said Grose.
The re-direction of students does not impact the calculation of walking distance to school and will not affect student’s eligibility for transportation, the release states.
The Town of Minto purchased the site from the school board in 2012 and sold it to Jeremy and Jeff Metzger and Metzger Construction Ltd. in 2013. At the time the town and the purchasers agreed public use of the existing walkway would be allowed until the developers construct a 1.5 metre wide gravel walkway on the William Street road allowance from George Street north to the Minto-Clifford Public School to the town’s satisfaction.
However, before construction of the William Street walkway began, the Metzgers advised Minto council the school board staff would not consent to an opening in the fence around the school to allow access into the yard due to monitoring and security concerns. The school board took the position the town should extend the Arthur Street sidewalk to the Minto Clifford School access.
In May, Minto council agreed to ask the board to permit an opening in the fence at William Street.
However Minto CAO Bill White stated in an Aug. 21 email that all parties are now on the same page.
“This is the school board’s call and in light of the pending reconstruction of George Street town staff do not have a concern,” White said.
“We all agreed the temporary walkway installed around the site would not work long term. However, once George Street is completed something that starts at William Street and crosses diagonally through the property away from construction activities can work if it’s done correctly,” he added.
When the residential construction on the property is completed, “there will certainly be a proper walkway that should be safe for all to use,” White continued.
“We just have to work something out as a temporary measure after the street reconstruction that works for the board, neighbours and developer.”
