Two area schools were on the potential chopping block but following a recent meeting, one is safe - at least for the time being.
At a special meeting called for Tuesday, January 21, 2014, the Good Spirit School Division (GSSD) Board of Education heard presentations from both the Calder and Fort Livingstone (Pelly) Schools' respective School Review Committees.
Further to a motion passed in early October, 2013, both schools have been part of a school review process to determine viability of future operations.
"Both School Review Committees put forward excellent presentations," states Bryan Cottenie, Board Chair. "They provided us with data, detailed observations and varied reasons as to why their school should remain open. We took note of the fact that each committee was made up of a cross-section of SCC and community members who all helped to provide a picture of their school as part of their respective communities."
Both Calder and Fort Livingstone Schools were identified for review of future school viability based upon the criteria established in Board Policy 17 and The Education Act, 1995. Numerous criteria such as enrolment figures, location, transportation considerations, grade configuration, staffing, operational costs, facility standards, program offerings, and extra-curricular activities are considered before a school is placed under review.
At the conclusion of the presentations, Board members held a closed session to digest to discuss information presented as well as determine next steps going forward. Two options for each school were reviewed. One option would be to make a motion to discontinue the school review process effective immediately or the second option would be to make a motion to continue to review the possible grade discontinuance or full closure of the school.
The Calder School review, says Cottenie, demonstrated that consideration of grade discontinuance or school closure is not warranted at this time. The Board of Education made a motion to remove Calder School from review status; the school will remain in operation and the school review process is complete.
Fort Livingstone School will continue into the next stages of review to consider grade discontinuance or full closure. A motion was passed to indicate the aforementioned and now, as part of the process, the Board will look at gathering more information.
