The public once again will have a chance to ask questions or voice concerns regarding the possible closure of F.H. Huffman School tonight when the Rainy River District School Board holds a second public consultation meeting there.
This Pupil Accommodation Review is meant to provide direction to the board regarding the future pupil accommodation for Huffman School.
The board is looking at the possibility of consolidating Huffman with Robert Moore School—and then building a new school at the Robert Moore site.
With the provincial government recently offering to provide planning approval for a total capitalized value of $9.8 million to address facility conditions at the schools, the board is hoping to move ahead with the next steps.
Although both schools have been declared prohibitive to repair (meaning the cost of repair exceeds the cost of building new), the board does not have to go through an accommodation review for Robert Moore because it is looking at a rebuild as opposed to a closure.
Tonight’s meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Huffman gym.
The first public consultation for Huffman, held at the beginning at December, didn’t draw much attendance. The Accommodation Review Committee is hoping the public will offer some feedback this time around.
At the end of the series of public consultations (two more are scheduled for Feb. 12 and April 8), a recommendation will be made to the board whether or not it should close, to consolidate, or to continue to keep Huffman open.
Information, such as the framework and answers to questions already posed, is available on the school board’s website at www.rrdsb.com
In related news, a public information session will be held tomorrow (Jan. 16) at 6:30 p.m. at the Robert Moore gym to provide information regarding the construction of a new school there.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
