Director of Education Mandy Savery-Whiteway talks to trustees and the public at guests at PECI (Photo: Tim Durkin/ Quinte News)
The Hastings Prince Edward District School Board is moving ahead with a process which could close or amalgamate 19 different local public schools.
On Monday, Director of Education Mandy Savery-Whiteway spoke to the Student Enrolment/School Capacity Committee and the Board of Trustees, about creating an Accommodation Review(s) for a group of schools in Belleville, another for The County and yet another in Centre Hastings.
(you can see the proposals for all three reviews at the bottom of this story)
The HPEDSB members meet at PECI in November, 2016 (Photo: Tim Durkin/ Quinte News)
The reviews could see massive changes, including several school closures, amalgamations and upgrades or new builds.
Savery-Whiteway says there is $250 million needed for capital upgrades over the next ten years. The average age of the HPEDSB elementary schools is 54 years, while secondary schools are an average of 60 years.
Savery-Whiteway says the accommodation review is a necessary process, due to Ministry of Education requirements and financial restraints.
Chair of the Board Dwayne Inch says that nothing is close to finalized, that it is just the beginning.
Inch says some tough realities need to be faced in the region however.
There were those who were against the review. Trustee Jennifer Cobbs (who represents Prince Edward County) says now with the ball, it will be difficult to stop.
We also asked Chair Inch what parents and concerned residents could do to overturn the current proposals.
Trustee Bonnie Danes (who represents the Centre Hastings area) told members she is concerned with closing a rural school and moving it into the village.
Director Savery-Whiteway was quick to point out that there is a lengthy seven month review, before any decision would be made. That review process includes public consultation. She added that if things do not change, the financial position of the HPEDSB would be in big trouble. The new school builds or renovations would also need to receive financial support from the MOE.
There were many parents at the meeting who had concern about their children. Wendy Lavender has three children in The County. She says her elementary aged students going to a high school worries her.
HPEDSB Manager of Planning Kim Horrigan going over plans to close, amalgamate and build new schools in Quinte (Photo: Tim Durkin/ Quinte News)
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
If you wish to review the proposed accommodation review(s) CLICK HERE
