The Rainy River District School Board learned Monday the provincial government is providing it with planning approval for a total capitalized value of $9.8 million to address facility conditions for students attending Robert Moore School and F.H. Huffman School here.
“This is fantastic news,” said Laura Mills, the board’s superintendent of business. “Now that they’ve released the planning approval, it means we can move ahead with the next steps.”
Since both schools have been declared prohibitive to repair (meaning the cost of repair exceeds the cost of rebuilding), the local public board is looking to consolidate Robert Moore and F.H. Huffman into a new school built at the Robert Moore on Second Street East.
The funding received is a significant portion of the cost of building a new school, and the board is looking forward to the planning and construction process.
It soon will begin a design process by enlisting the support of parents, community members, and other partners.
“We have seen the impact of a new facility on student learning when it is combined with good teaching,” noted board chair Dan Belluz. “Students in good learning environments will respond positively, as seen after completion of the J.W. Walker project.”
The board also has received $5.5 million to address the costs that it has been carrying for the J.W. Walker project, which was renovated back in 2003.
“It helps to free up some of our budgeting money,” Mills explained.
Many options for new facilities must be considered, including technological innovations, the learning needs of students, and a culturally-appropriate design.
“It will be imperative to recognize the students that we will serve for the next three generations of learning and attempt to predict their needs so that student success will continue to prosper within the board,” said Education Director Jack McMaster.
“Our aboriginal student body is growing, and recognizing past and present contributions that aboriginal people have made will positively impact the future,” he added.
“The board’s belief statement will be well-served here: ‘The Rainy River District School Board believes the strength of our past and unity in our present will guide our future.’”
In order to build a new school at the Robert Moore site, the board will work closely with the ministry by considering recommendations and developing a plan.
“But nothing will happen overnight,” Mills stressed, though noting they now are now on track to move forward.
“Without the funding, all we can do are Band-Aid repairs,” she added. “We can’t finance the building of a new school on our own. . . . We have just been able to keep the schools running, but not providing improvements or betterments.”
The consultation process to determine the future of F.H. Huffman School will continue as planned.
The board will be considering keeping the school open with minor repairs from School Renewal Funds, rebuilding a new school there, or accommodating the Huffman students in the newly-built Robert Moore School.
The Accommodation Review Committee will complete a consultation process, with a recommendation from the committee, in April. The first meeting occurred at Huffman School on Dec. 3, with the second meeting scheduled there for Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m.
The board plans to hold an information session in the new year for parents of students at Robert Moore to discuss the funding and design process.
Meanwhile, with the phase one funding secured, the public board now hopes to receive additional funding and approval to rebuild Donald Young School in Emo, which been deemed prohibitive to repair, as well.
For more information, contact the board office at 274- 9855.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
