Sir James Dunn and Blind River Public Schools in poor condition

Algoma District School Board (ADSB) trustees have agreed to the board’s recommendations to form accommodation review committees (ARCs) to discuss the fate of Wawa’s Sir James Dunn Public School and Blind River Public School.

Trustees gave their approval to the board’s recommendations at a brief meeting held Tuesday afternoon.

Both schools were approved for Under Review Status in June.

The board is considering closing Sir James Dunn Public School and transitioning its students into a JK-Grade 12 site at Michipicoten High School beginning in 2018.

A report by the board states Sir James Dunn Public School, reconstructed in 1973-1975 after the original school was destroyed by fire, is in poor condition.

The board projects the school, in order to stay open, would need over $4.7 million in renovations and upgrades over the next five years.

The board is also considering closing Blind River Public School and transitioning its students to a JK-Grade 12 site at W.C. Eaket High School in time for the 2018-2019 school year.

The board states Blind River Public School, built in 1928, is in critical condition.

The board projects the school, in order to stay open, would need over $9.8 million in renovations and upgrades over the next five years.

The formation of ARCs are a necessary step to be taken, required by Ontario law, before any school is closed.

A minimum of three public input meetings are required to be held under the ARC process.