Bjorkdale School will remain a K to 12 school for another year.
North East School Division trustees voted to end the review of the school at their April 11 meeting.
“The school review committee in Bjorkdale did an excellent job and the board took everything presented to them and this is the decision they come up with,” said Luke Perkins, the division’s chair.
Opposed was Tisdale trustee Richard Hildebrand.
There will be some changes next year to ensure the school remains sustainable.
“Next year, we are reducing [staff by one full-time equivalent] at the school and that came out of the discussion from the school review,” said Don Rempel, the division’s director of education. “Next year we’re looking at working with Bjorkdale School to try to explore alternate ways of delivering education in a multi-grade setting.”
That will inlcude more online learning and use of the Sun West Distance Learning Centre.
“They know what their staffing is for next year and they know the challenge in front of them and they’re up for it,” Rempel said. “They’re looking at finding different ways to deliver, to maintain a K to 12 program at Bjorkdale.”
It’s possible the school could be placed under review next year if it meets the criteria laid out in the division’s policy book.
Update: Due to some confusion over the vote, previous versions of this article has Carrot River trustee Bob Gagné's voting intention wrong. He voted in favour of ending the review.
