Accommodation Review Committee Public Input Meeting Minutes – March 17, 2008
WALKERTON AREA SCHOOLS
Monday, March 17, 2008 @ 4:00 p.m.
Walkerton District Secondary School
ARC Membership:Daryl Wood Facilitator
Debbie Davidson Brant School Community Council Chair
Betty-Anne Elliott Walkerton Public School Community Council Chair
Dan Wong Walkerton District Secondary School Community Council Chair
David Inglis Municipality Representative
Doug Berry Chamber of Commerce
Jennifer Yenssen Bluewater District School Board Trustee (Observer)
Luke Albert Student Senator
Lori Wilder Superintendent of Student Services (Resource)
Cathy Thomson Principal, Walkerton District Secondary School (Resource)
Mary Reid Principal, Walkerton Public School (Resource)
Karen Burr Vice-Principal, Walkerton Public School (Resource)
Darlene Thomson Executive Assistant (Recorder)
/ ITEM / ACTION /
Welcome / Dan welcomed everyone and asked if there were any housekeeping items. Tonight will be a working meeting to go over the current recommendations and decide what to pursue.
Brant Central and Walkerton Public Summary of Staff Input / Karen read the Brant Central staff input that was received. The staff is opposed to putting a JK-12 school on the Walkerton District site. Their rationale being their belief that there is limited outdoor space available at the Walkerton District site. They recommend consolidating Brant Central and Walkerton Public on the existing Brant Central site. They also recommend a restructuring of Walkerton District for secondary students. The staff is not opposed to the concept of a JK-12 and should the ARC recommend that option.
Mary read the Walkerton Public staff input that was received. The staff is opposed to the recommendation of a JK-12 school on the Walkerton District site. They recommend a new elementary school on the Brant site as they too believe that the space is limited.
Mary read an individual letter submitted by Christa Graham. Christina is opposed to a JK-12school on the Walkerton District site. She believes that there is not enough space and the proximity of the highway is too close for elementary students. She recommends a new elementary school be built on the Brant Central site.
Karen read an individual letter submitted by Michelle Knapper. Michelle recommends a new elementary school separate from the high school and that Walkerton District investigate the potential of partners such as Fanshawe college. She also recommends changing the boundaries and amalgamating Walkerton District with Sacred Heart.
(continued)
Brant Central and Walkerton Public staff input (continued) / Karen mentioned that another survey, from a concerned parent, has been distributed through Brant Central school. The survey includes a variety of options for parents to check off. Karen believes the intent of the concerned parent was to generate more elementary input.
Dan reminded Karen that there is opportunity for the public to present at the March 26th meeting and asked Karen to share that with the concerned parent.
It was noted that any additional surveys that are requested be brought to the committee prior to distribution.
General Discussion / Discussion took place regarding the space required for a JK-12 school.
Items that need to be considered: ensure that if additional land is recommended for purchase, that it is serviced by the municipality; accessibility of building; and sufficient outdoor space.
Discussions regarding potential land to purchased, should that be part of a recommendation, took place.
Discussion took place regarding the misconception of the public regarding the Walkerton District Secondary School staff presentation. The secondary staff did not intentionally ignore the needs of the elementary students by indicating a specific space requirement on their diagram. It is believed that the secondary staff did not feel they could speak on behalf of the elementary and were only presenting their views required for the secondary staff.
Discussion took place regarding the misconception of the public regarding the tour of Peninsula Shores and the lack of space. Cathy mentioned the space at Peninsula Shores was better than what Peninsula Shores had originally. There is a recurring belief that if we build new we would lose too much. The enrolment of the two schools is quite different and Peninsula Shores was built based on their capacity. It is believed that it would be hard to maintain the separation of elementary and secondary should an existing building be retrofitted.
It was noted that from the 2002 Walkerton Accommodation review report, the student loading capacity recorded by the Ministry was different from the 2007 Walkerton Accommodation review report. Lori will clarify the discrepancy with Mike Booth.
Lori mentioned that the costing of the potential recommendations of the ARC and programming for each of the potential recommendations should hopefully be complete by the end of the week.
Jennifer mentioned that should the 30 day extension request be granted by the Board, that would require a special Board meeting on September 30, 2008 to approve the recommendation.
The ARC has decided that an additional meeting is required to present their recommendations to the public. This meeting will be advertised as such for April 24, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at Walkerton District Secondary School.
Requests received to present on March 26, 2008 / Bill Mayne has submitted a written request to present. He will be added to the agenda.
Mayor Bagnato has been approached by Jim Garrow to present at the March 26th meeting. Jim runs the Bethune Institute which provides education to students from China.
Discussion took place regarding whether or not students who pay tuition can be counted by the Board to receive Ministry grant. Lori will check with Brenda Booth.
It was agreed that while the ARC is unable to make any decisions regarding tuition students, it will honor its mandate by listening to all presentations.
Both presentations for March 26, 2008 will be given 5 minutes to present as per public input guidelines.
Potential recommendations to be discussed by ARC / The following potential recommendations are not presented in any specific order.
§ Building a new JK-12 school on the existing Walkerton District site.
§ Retrofitting Walkerton District Secondary School to accommodate a JK-12 school.
§ Build a new JK-8 school on Brant Central site and downsize Walkerton District Secondary to accommodate secondary students
§ Build a new JK-6 school on Brant Central site and accommodate 7-12 at the existing Walkerton District Secondary School
§ Build a new JK-8 on existing Brant Central site and create a regional high school for Hanover and Walkerton
§ Building a new JK-12 school on a new site
The potential recommendations were discussed.
After much discussion, ARC agreed unanimously to remove the following from the potential recommendation list:
§ Build a new JK-6 school on Brant Central site and accommodate 7-12 at the existing Walkerton District Secondary School
§ Build a new JK-8 on existing Brant Central site and create a regional high school for Hanover and Walkerton.
Adjournment / The meeting of the Accommodation Review Committee Meeting for the Walkerton Area was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
Approximate number of participants in attendance / There were approximately 13 participants in attendance at the Walkerton Area Accommodation Review Committee Meeting.
Handouts Available at Meeting
§ Student Accommodation Report, Brant Central School
§ Student Accommodation Report, Walkerton Public School
§ Student Accommodation Report, Walkerton District Secondary School
§ Bluewater District School Board Pupil Accommodation Review Process (summary and chart)
§ Your Voice Deserves to be Heard
Next Meeting (Public Input) – Wednesday, March 26, 2008 @ 7:00 p.m. @ Walkerton District Secondary School
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