Huffman to consolidate with new Robert Moore

During a special meeting of the Rainy River District School Board last night, it was determined that once a new school is built on the Robert Moore School property, F.H. Huffman School will close its doors.
The two schools will consolidate in the new building, which is expected to be open in September, 2010.
“It will be exciting for students and staff because the consolidation presents many opportunities,” said Heather Campbell, the board’s superintendent of education.
“I’m quite satisfied with the accommodation review and the way it went,” noted board chair Dan Belluz.
An Accommodation Review Committee, consisting of trustees, school council chairs and members, and representatives from communities, First Nations, and schools, met six times from November to April.
They had to review and customize the generic School Valuation Framework for Huffman, hear questions and comments from the community, and review data for the school based on the that framework.
After considering the value to the student, system, community, and local economy, the committee made the recommendation that Huffman and Robert Moore consolidate in a new school on the Robert Moore School property, which the school board passed last night.
However, during the consultation process, there were some concerns from the community that included projected enrolments and staffing, increased class sizes, losing the small, close-knit learning environment of a small school, and safety concerns with grouping primary students with junior and intermediate ones.
These concerns were carefully reviewed, with value to the students being the highest consideration, and it was decided that consolidation still was the best option.
Campbell explained students would have increased availability of programming, including Ojibwe language instruction which currently is not offered at Huffman.
They also would enjoy an enhanced library, multiple resources, a full-sized gym, and access to new technology.
She added there also would be opportunity to enhance safety and security within a new school.
As well, consolidation would offer value to the system by allowing for increased networking and resource sharing between staff members.
Reduced maintenance costs also would occur with a new school, thus increasing improvement opportunities for the board’s other schools.
The committee felt a new school also might attract professionals and families to the area, which would be a benefit to the community and local economy.
The new Robert Moore School will be built with funds from the provincial government. Back in December, the ministry offered to provide planning approval for a total capitalized value of $9.8 million to address facility conditions at the school.
The board has since been moving ahead with the next steps of a rebuild at Robert Moore.
Both Huffman and Robert Moore had been declared prohibitive to repair (meaning the cost of repair exceeds the cost of building new).