Board shares its vision for the delivery of education in Espanola

At the regular Board meeting on Tuesday, July 2, 2013, Rainbow District School Board trustees approved a recommendation that A.B. Ellis Public School be relocated at Espanola High School by September 2014, providing the Board receives capital funding from the Ministry of Education to renew the secondary school site to accommodate two schools. 

Capital funding would enable Rainbow District School Board to revitalize the Espanola High School site to better meet the needs of students from JK to Grade 8 in an elementary school setting and from Grade 9 to 12 in a reconfigured secondary school setting. The existing A.B. Ellis Public School would then be declared surplus to the needs of Rainbow District School Board.

The Ministry of Education is encouraging area school boards to work together to address student accommodation needs in Espanola. Rainbow District School Board, the Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario and the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board are collaborating to determine how best to deliver education in English and in French in this community.

“The Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario currently leases 12,719 square feet at Espanola High School and has indicated its intent to vacate this space,” said Director of Education Norm Blaseg. “The utilization of Espanola High School will drop to 43 per cent in the next five years.”

“A review of the secondary school site in Espanola has been completed, including the indoor facilities and the space in the surrounding schoolyard. The site could accommodate two distinct schools,” he added. “This presents an opportunity for us to ensure that all students continue to have access to the best programming possible in quality school facilities, reduce surplus space, and ensure the sustainability of existing programs and services for all students of the Board.”

Rainbow District School Board will share its vision for the renewal of the secondary school site in Espanola as the future home of A.B. Ellis Public School (JK to Grade 8) and Espanola High School (Grade 9 to 12) at a public information session on Thursday, September 19, 2013 at 7 pm. The public information session for Rainbow District School Board will take place at Espanola High School.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, 

Senior Advisor, Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,

Rainbow District School Board, 705.674.3171, ext. 7217