Students may struggle elsewhere, say Henry supporters

Thursday evening marked the third in a series of public accommodation review meetings on the fate of Alexander Henry High School on Northern Ave.

The meetings are being used as an opportunity for the public to voice their opinion on three options for the school, two of which would see the school close.

The options are:

1. Consolidating the programs currently housed at the school by accommodating the current students in another existing secondary school;

2. Accommodating the students and programs in their neighbourhood schools and closing Alexander Henry;

3. Keeping Alexander Henry open with everything remaining status quo.

Much of Thursday night’s public input centred around the reputation the school has in the community as a school students attend when they struggle at other secondary schools.

Many of the current and former students in attendance made it clear that the school has provided them with a different way of learning than what they were used to at their former schools.

Current enrolment at the school is 175 students, down from 219 during the 2006-07 school year, and is expected to continue its decline but the committee did note that enrolment has declined around Ontario, not just locally.

The next public meeting is set for November 9 at 5:30 p.m. at Alexander Henry High School.

The meeting will be used to present to the public, the report that will be submitted to the ADSB trustees.

A final decision on the status of Alexander Henry is not expected until late January.