School board to vote on use agreement

The Rainy River District School Board will vote tonight on an agreement with the Ministry of Tourism and Recreation to increase affordable community access to school space.
The Community Recreation and Use Agreement will allow the board to receive a grant of $37,040 to provide local not-for-profit groups with affordable access to school facilities.
In July, the Ontario government announced $20 million to help boards open schools to their communities.
Last month, the Lakehead District School Board in Thunder Bay signed a similar agreement with the Ministry of Tourism and Recreation, eliminating all fees for community not-for-profit groups that use the board’s facilities.
“Education cutbacks by the previous government caused school boards to price their grounds and facilities out of reach of community groups, but we’re changing that,” Tourism and Recreation minister Jim Bradley of the Community Use of Schools program.
“Opening the doors to our schools is making our communities better places to live, where people are able to be active, healthy, and more connected regardless of their financial circumstances,” Bradley added.
If the resolution is carried tonight, the board will “endeavour to increase access for not-for-profit groups.”
It also will “encourage discussions with municipalities on joint use agreements with the intent of improving accessibility and reducing cost barriers where appropriate,” according to a report prepared by Superintendent of Education Terry Ellwood.
Also at tonight’s regular monthly meeting, the board will:
•vote on a resolution to approve eight policies, and to submit seven more for stakeholder consultation;
•examine the EQAO results for Grades 3, 6, and 9;
•recognize the “Folklore” program at Huffman School;
•hear a presentation regarding the “Communities in Bloom” project; and
•hear an update from Ellwood on the Student Success (formerly Students At-Risk) Action Plan.
The meeting gets underway at 7 p.m. at Robert Moore School.