The Rainy River District School Board has taken one step closer to consulting the public on an expanded J.W. Walker School here, sending out requests to architectural firms for quotes on drawings.
The decision to send out the letters to 10 firms was made at a meeting of the architectural committee Monday night but not announced to the public until the board’s regular meeting last night.
The firms must respond by Feb. 2, at which time the committee will shortlist the companies. But no choice will be made, Education Director Warren Hoshizaki stressed, until the board gives its approval to go ahead with drawings at all.
Costing up to an estimated $30,000, the plans would detail what a $3.3-million expansion at J.W. Walker–to absorb students from Alexander MacKenzie and Alberton Schools–could possibly look like.
(The board also is looking at closing Sixth Street School, with students there to attend a renovated Huffman School).
But the board still must decide whether it would be wise to spend the money on plans which may not be used at all if public opinion so dictates.
Hoshizaki said he hoped the architectural committee would be in position to request the board’s approval by its Feb. 6 meeting.
If the board agrees to have plans drawn up, they could take an estimated three months. This would be followed by the scheduling on consultations, which Hoshizaki has said will take place at all three schools.
Several board committees have been looking into the necessity of school closures for more than a year after reports have shown school renewal grants no longer can cover repairs at some aging district schools.
Regardless of the outcome of any consultations, no schools would be closed before September, 2002 as per Ministry of Education school closure policy.
In other business last night, the board:
•welcomed Rainy River High School student Danielle Shrumm as new student trustee (she is replacing RRHS student Colin Saj, will be moving with his family to Meaford, Ont. at the end of the month);
•heard a presentation on the “Balanced Literacy Approach” by literacy co-ordinators Penny Newman and Maureen Ricard;
•approved a new policy outlining the rules concerning trustees attending board and committee meetings electronically, which stated trustees are considered to be present even if they only participate via videoconferencing.
(the board chair, the Director of Education, and at least one other board member must be physically present at each board meeting while only the chair and director need be present at committee meetings); and
•accepted the January personnel report, which noted the appointment of Darlene Ferniuk to the board’s new communication/transportation co-ordinator position.
It also included leaves of absence for educational assistant Deborah Deschamps, teachers Dave Ward (Sixth Street/Alberton), Colette Bowles (Sixth Street), Catherine Bruyere (FFHS), and Charleen Gustafson (Donald Young School), attendance counsellor Kimberly Kaus, and bus drivers Tim Marmus and Wes Morrisseau.
Teacher John Amundsen (Rainy River High School) will be retiring as of June 21 while Carla Galbraith, a board accounting clerk, has had a change in assignment to school secretary with the alternative education program.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
