Staff
Fort Frances High School will have a group of new students this fall.
Grade 7-8 students from J.W. Walker will be moved there effective Aug. 29 to address the over-capacity issue at their school.
The Rainy River District School Board approved the recommendation put forth by the finance committee during its regular monthly meeting last Tuesday.
Trustee David Kircher explained the Facility Master Plan was presented by Cynthia Clarke of Ameresco at last month’s finance committee meeting.
“This plan was developed by Ameresco through meetings with district and municipal stakeholders regarding demographic and employment trends in our area,” he noted.
“The Facility Master Plan incorporates these trends in future student enrolments, funding requirements for our schools, with an emphasis on programming that promotes student achievement and well-being,” he added.
Kircher said the Facility Master Plan included a recommendation to configure Fort High as a Grade 7-12 campus.
The recommendation was made based on student enrolment projections, financial analysis of transitioning intermediate students, and limited impact on student transportation ride times, as well as the opportunities and benefits for students, staff, and the community.
“At this point, administration is recommending that Grades 7-8 students from J.W. Walker have their programming moved to Fort Frances High School to ease the over-capacity now at J.W. Walker School beginning the 2016-2017 school year,” Kircher remarked.
He noted a transition committee will be created to prepare for and assist with the transition.
Director of Education Heather Campbell indicated that Bill Daley, who most recently was principal at Robert Moore School, will lead the transition of J.W. Walker Grade 7-8 students to Fort High.
“We have three intermediate classes so that’s our desire to move them,” Campbell said at the conclusion of her report to the board.
“It has posed some challenges, not just for capacity but for security, communication, accessibility, so we’re really excited about this opportunity for those students,” she added.
Kircher said administration then will explore the recommendation to configure Fort High as a Grade 7-12 campus in terms of programming, student enrolment projections, and timing of such a reconfiguration.
