Eleven local schools placed under review

They don't want to spread panic among parents.

But last night, Huron-Superior District School Board trustees decided to begin reviewing the future of 11 schools.

Our Lady of Fatima and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Schools in Elliot Lake are both under review.

Sister Mary Clare, St. Hubert, St. Mark and St. Patrick Catholic Schools in Sault Ste. Marie are all under review.

Also in Sault Ste. Marie, St. Ann, St. Bernadette and St. Pius X Catholic Schools are under review.

Both Catholic secondary schools in Sault Ste. Marie - St. Basil and St. Mary's College as well as the Holy Angels Learning Centre - are all also under review.

"In the past, the phrase 'under review' has been linked closely with closures," said Director of Education John Stadnyk. "This isn't about closures - it's about the best use of space."

And it's all part of a plan.

The board has a capital plan that involves the consolidation or replacement of some of its schools.

"The plan is a working document," Stadnyk said. "It's possible that at some point we may see construction of another school in the north of the Sault."

Huron-Superior officially initiated a review for the eleven schools last night, but it came as no surprise for anyone following board happenings.

"We began consultation last fall on our capital plan," said Stadnyk. "The next step is to formalize these plans."

This step in the plan is necessary for ministry funding, he added.

Last night, the board also approved a generic school valuation framework for committees to use as a tool to help them review the schools listed above.

Four committees will be struck, one for each geographical area affected.

Each committee will be asked to determine the value of the schools in their area under review.

They will use public input to evaluate the schools' value to each of their students, community, the school board and the local economy.

The process will take at least six months with a ministry-established plan for no less than three public consultations for each school under review.

Under those guidelines, there will be 60 or more days between each public meeting.

At the end of the process, each committee will make its recommendations on the fate of the schools under review to the board.

Visit the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board website to view its capital plan.

Trustees also heard last ight about the board's enrolment figures for the 2008-2009 school year.

The full text of board release on that issue follows.

************************ Preliminary enrolment figures exceed projections

The Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board reports a decrease of 4.75 full-time equivalents (FTE) students for the 2008-2009 school year, a slight drop from projected estimates (used for budget purposes).

This is comprised of a decrease of 29.0 elementary students and an increase of 24.25 secondary pupils.

The board's funding is based on actual enrolment figures submitted to the ministry of education October 31 and March 31 annually.

Elementary - City summary

The total FTE enrolment from junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 in the 14 elementary schools within Sault Ste. Marie as of September 9, 2008 is 2,879.5 compared to 2,982.5 on October 31, 2007.

This represents an overall reduction of 103.0 FTE students.

A comparison of the projected FTE enrolment used for budget purposes and FTE enrolments of September 9 shows a decrease of 40.0 FTE students.

Elementary - District summary

The total FTE enrolment from junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 in the eight Catholic elementary schools in the district as of September 9 is 959.0 FTE compared to 993.0 on October 31, 2007, an overall reduction of 34.0 students.

A comparison of the projected FTE enrolments used for budget purposes and FTE enrolments as of September 9 reveals an increase of 11.0 students.

Secondary enrolment

The total FTE enrolment in the three Catholic secondary schools as of September 9 is 1,528.25 FTE compared to 1,635.75 on October 31, 2007, an overall reduction of 107.5 students.

A comparison of the projected FTE enrolments used for budget purposes and FTE enrolments as of September 9 shows an increase of 24.25 students.

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