School board to review future of area schools

Over the next few months, representatives with the Western School District will be meeting with the area's school councils to determine future plans for the delivery of education in the area.

Part of what he says is a long-term educational proposal, Allan Skanes, assistant director of human resources for the Western School District, told the Georgian last week this process is just beginning for Bay St. George schools. It has already been undertaken in other parts of the Western region.

The process has often led to closure and consolidation or construction of new schools.

"Each of the areas was looked at in terms of facilities and the educational needs in the different schools," said Mr. Skanes.

"For instance, in Labrador, we went through a process there and are now in the process of building a new school. We consolidated three schools there so in September there will be a new school built there. We did the same thing in Port Saunders area, consolidated three schools and there's a new school in the planning stages for St. Anthony."

The possible closure of one school was a topic of discussion at the Stephenville Crossing town council meeting last week.

St. Michael's Elementary School is the only remaining school in the community. Assumption High School was closed in 2001 and students from the community are now bussed to St. George's Appalachia High School for classes. The town council doesn't want to see their younger students bussed out of the community as well.

"We will write a letter to our representation and whomever need be to voice our concerns on this issue," said Mayor Leona Webb.

School closures are not necessarily the plan when it comes to the upcoming consultations, according to Mr. Skanes, although it is one option that is discussed.

"For instance, in Port Hope Simpson, we looked at that area - there is a school in Charlottetown, one in St. Lewis, one in Port Hope Simpson. They are 40, 50 and 60 km away from each other, so consolidation wasn't a viable option there, although it was certainly looked at as a possible option," he said.

"When we go forward on this, all options are considered, but sometimes not all options are viable and not moved on forward. In the case of Port Hope Simpson, we built a new school because the older building needed to be replaced."

Reviewing the options

Mr. Skanes said sometimes there are school closures, but the board is in a situation where they see student populations going down. He says their concerns must then turn to the best way to deliver student programming.

"Sometimes the board sees that education programming can occur in another building, so that's certainly one of the options that will be looked at, but it's not the only option," he said.

The school district is just beginning its consultation process, which begans with meeting the various school councils in the Stephenville area, including St. Michael's.

"Following that, in the fall and over the summer, we'll develop a report on all the schools, looking at information, demographics, school buildings, facilities themselves, what needs their might be facilities-wise and we will provide different options for the board to look at," he said.

School board trustees will eventually vote on what option they wish to follow and then the process will become formal and the public will be invited to share their views, write letters or make presentations to the board.

"It will be a full, open process for parents and other stakeholders to participate in," he said, encouraging feedback from the most important of stakeholders - parents.

"During the process we encourage input, we encourage parents to talk to us, not wait for a report to come out saying here is our plan. Help us devise the plan and let us know what you're thinking up front."

Schools which will be looked at under the process include St. Thomas Aquinas in Port au Port East, Stephenville Primary, Elementary, Middle School, High School and the Pathfinder Directions School; St. Michael's Elementary School in Stephenville Crossing and Our Lady of Mercy Elementary and Appalachia High School in St. George's.

E.A. Butler High School in Bay St. George South underwent changes five years ago when it was consolidated with Cassidy Elementary School to become that area's Kindergarten to Grade 12 school. Mr. Skanes said it would not be looked at again in the foreseeable future.