Trustees and staff discuss capital projects at the October 24, 2016 meeting of the HPEDSB (Photo: Tim Durkin/ Quinte News)
Some massive changes have been proposed, which could affect as many as 19 local public elementary or secondary schools.
On Monday, at the HPEDSB Student Enrollment/School Capacity committee meeting, trustees will comb over options, which could dramatically change the education landscape in Prince Edward County, Centre Hastings and Belleville.
BELLEVILLE PROPOSED CHANGES:
There are two options being proposed in Belleville.
OPTION 1: – preferred by Senior Administration
1. Close Quinte Secondary and move students to Centennial and Moira for September, 2018.
2. Close Moira Secondary and ask for funding from the Ministry of Education to build a new school in east end Belleville, to open September, 2020.
3. Close Hillcrest Public School and move the students to Prince of Wales and Parkdale Public for September, 2017.
4. Close Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria and ask for funding from the Ministry of Education to build a new school on the Sir Winston Churchill property, to open in September, 2020.
5. The grade 7 & 8 Destination students at Moira Secondary would relocate to the proposed school on the Sir Winston Churchill property, in September, 2020.
6. Sir John A MacDonald will permanently become a JK-Grade 6 school, with grade 7/8 students (now housed at Centennial Secondary), moving to Suzanna Moodie School.
OPTION 2: – not preferred by Senior Administration
1. Close Quinte Secondary and move students to Centennial and Moira for September, 2018.
2. Keep Moira Secondary open and ask for funding from the Ministry of Education, to build an addition on the school for September, 2019
3. Close Hillcrest Public School and move the students to Prince of Wales and Parkdale Public for September, 2017.
4. Close Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria and ask for funding from the Ministry of Education to build a new school on the Sir Winston Churchill property, to open in September, 2020.
5. The grade 7 & 8 Destination students at Moira Secondary relocate to the proposed school on the Sir Winston Churchill property, in September, 2020.
6. Sir John A MacDonald will permanently become a JK-Grade 6 school, with grade 7/8 students (now housed at Centennial Secondary), moving to Suzanna Moodie School.
PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY PROPOSED CHANGES:
1. Close Pinecrest Memorial and Queen Elizabeth in The County and move the students to Prince Edward Collegiate Institute for September, 2017. PECI would then become a JK-12 school.
2. Close Sophiasburgh Central and move the students to PECI for September, 2018.
3. Close CML Snider and Kente Public and request funding from the Ministry of Education, for the creation of a new school in Wellington, to open in September 2020.
CENTRE HASTINGS PROPOSED CHANGES:
1. Close Madoc Township school and move the students to Madoc Public for September, 2017
2. The grade 7/8 students from Madoc Public would move to Centre Hastings Secondary for September, 2017
Kerry Donnell is the spokesperson for the Hastings Prince Edward District School Board. She says the proposals put forward in the agenda (which you can find by CLICKING HERE), will be looked at on Monday November 21, 2016 at the Student Enrollment/School Capacity committee meeting, 3:30 p.m. at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute.
If the proposals are approved, they would then move on to Monday evening’s board meeting for discussion, 7:00 p.m., also at PECI.
Trustees can accept, reject or propose other ideas on Monday. Donnell adds if they move forward, they will then undergo a six month consultation process, which will include public meetings and further study. They would also depend on Ministry of Education approval.
Nothing has been finalized.
Quinte News will cover the meetings Monday and will report the decisions of the trustees.
