The Northwest Catholic District School Board has added a portable classroom to St. Francis here in preparation for the new year school—and is now waiting one for St. Michael’s.
“The one for St. Francis is a used one, and we’re working on it now to make some enhancements,” Education Director John Madigan said this morning.
“But we weren’t able to get a used one for St. Michael’s,” he noted. “We made the order for a new one back in June, but there’s a high demand for portables right now.
“We’re going to be on a tight timeline,” he admitted.
Madigan said the board hopes to receive the new portable next week, but has talked to St. Michael’s principal Teresa Dennis to let her know that arrangements may have to be made to accommodate the class for a day or two after school starts Sept. 4.
The new portable at St. Michael’s is to handle a projected increase in enrolment in for JK/SK, said Madigan, adding “but it’s not significant in that it warrants a new classroom.”
And while the local Catholic board is expecting a slightly higher number of Grade 4, 5, and 6 students at St. Francis for the 2002-03 school year, Madigan noted the extra portable is part of a board commitment to reduce class sizes and avoid having too many split-level classes.
The board also has hired six new teachers this year.
St. Francis already has two portables while St. Michael’s will be gaining its second.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
