FORT FRANCES—The Northwest Catholic District School Board on Tuesday night received a report from administration on the potential increase of revenues by extending its schools to Grade 9, though no action will be taken at this time.
In light of the board’s declining enrolment, trustees had passed a motion at their regular meeting March 24 asking administration to draw up the report, examining what potential revenues could be gained from the extension.
“We’re looking at all areas to increase our enrolment,” noted Dryden trustee Rob vanOort, who also is the board’s chairman.
“[Dryden trustee] John [Borst] had indicated we should look at opportunities for growth,” said Education Director Mary-Catherine Kelly.
The board’s motion requested an examination of potential revenues from a hypothetical 100 percent, 75 percent, and 50 percent rate of retention of 2006/07 Grade 8 students.
Kelly noted the report contains more than straight data. “We’re trying to give a big picture,” she explained.
The report states there currently are 146 students in Grade 8 in the board’s four schools which offer intermediate classes.
If 100 percent of them were to enroll in Grade 9 next year, the board would receive an additional $1,620,600 in grants from the Ministry of Education.
If 50 percent of them were to enrol, the board would receive $810,300.
However, that number drops significantly over the five-year projection. By 2010-11, the board expects to have only 119 students in Grade 8 in its four schools.
If 100 percent of them were to enrol in Grade 9, the board would receive $1,320,900 in funding. It would receive $660,450 if 50 percent were to do so.
The four schools are located in four different communities—Fort Frances, Stratton, Dryden, and Sioux Lookout—and each would have to have its own teachers, space, and programming.
Kelly noted the Catholic board likely would not be able to offer Grade 9 in all four communities, so it would have to choose.
“What communities get it? How do we make that decision?” she asked.
“There would be significant cost implications of hiring staff with secondary school qualifications in core subjects—math, English, and sciences—for such a small number of pupils per location,” the report reads.
The report did not take into account the cost of finding space for the hypothetical Grade 9 students and did not include any ethnographic research, such as interviewing students or parents.
Kelly noted secondary schools require a wide range of programming, including Academic and Applied level courses. They would be in competition with existing high schools that can offer a variety of courses at both levels.
“There are going to be some challenges for us. Taking this one on would take quite a bit of work to do,” Kelly conceded.
“We would recommend we get a consultant to help us do that. The work is relatively intensive,” she added.
“I’m not asking anyone to make a decision,” Borst said.
Each trustee had the opportunity Tuesday night to express their opinions on the report.
“I don’t know how doable it is, but you never get if you don’t look, I guess,” said Fort Frances trustee Paul Cousineau, adding he did have some concerns about the drop in numbers over the five-year period and how that would affect staffing.
Fort Frances trustee Harold Huntley declined comment. “I think it’s going to take some time to mull it over,” he said.
Fort Frances trustee and board vice-chair Annie Fitzgerald did not support the idea.
“I’m all for a Catholic high school if you can provide a full-service Catholic high school that will enrich and enhance your students from Grade 9 to Grade 12,” she said.
“But there’s a time that comes when the little school just no longer holds the kids,” she continued.
“It [the report] doesn’t say anything about the musicals, the sports, the other things that are a part of their high school experience.”
“If it was a full high school from [Grade] 9 to 12, I would fully support it,” said Stratton trustee Mark Chojko-Bolec. “I don’t really think it’s doable.”
He used the example of the high school in Rainy River for students in the west end of the district.
“A lot of kids want to come to Fort [Frances] because there’s all this extra stuff. They want to go to a bigger school,” he said.
“I’d rather go with what’s best for the kids rather than trying to get revenue for the board,” Chojko-Bolec concluded.
Cathy Bowen, the trustee for Sioux Lookout, stressed the importance of having the support of the parents before undertaking such a program.
After the discussion, Fitzgerald put forth a motion to defer further discussion of the issue until 2008/09, when the board would be at the end of its three-year deficit reduction plan.
“In light of where we are right now with our budget plans . . . would it be possible to put this on hold until we see how we come out at the other end of that?” she asked.
Chojko-Bolec seconded the motion while Borst spoke strongly against it.
“That is a totally, totally irresponsible motion,” he said.
“It’s almost incomprehensible from a business management point of view,” he added. “It is also incomprehensible—and I regret saying this—from a moral responsibility that you bring as a Catholic trustee to the task of educating Catholic students.
“I’m quite prepared to be patient, but I’m not prepared to do nothing for the next two years. And that’s what is implied in that motion,” he concluded.
The motion was defeated 4-2.
vanOort suggested trustees take some time to thoroughly go over the report before deciding what to do with it.
“Let everybody have a good chew on it,” he said. “Put it in the context of previous reports on secondary education.”
Also at Tuesday night’s meeting, the Catholic board approved its Accommodation Review Procedure regarding school closures.
The board’s next regular meeting is slated for Tuesday, May 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the board office adjacent to St. Francis School here.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
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