Trustees make decision on accommodation of students in Sudbury South

Rainbow District School Board trustees made a decision regarding the accommodation of students in Sudbury South area schools during the regular Board meeting on Monday, November 15, 2010.

“The decision brings to a close a year-long accommodation review,” said Board Chair Tyler Campbell. “On behalf of the Board and its Administrative Council, I would like to thank the Accommodation Review Committee for Sudbury South Area Schools and the public for their engagement in this important process.”

Rainbow District School Board trustees approved the following motions:

That Alexander Public School remain as is.




That R.L. Beattie Public School remain as is.




That Lockerby Composite School remain as is.




That Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School remain as is.




That Monetville Public School be right-sized.




That a new JK to Grade 8 green school be built on the MacLeod site.




That Long Lake Public School be closed by September 2012, at the earliest.




That students currently attending Long Lake Public School be transferred to Algonquin Road Public School by September 2012, at the earliest, pending available space.




That new registrants at Long Lake Public School have the option to attend Algonquin Road Public School effective September 2011.




That Wanup Public School be closed by September 2012, at the earliest.




That students currently attending Wanup Public School be transferred to Algonquin Road Public School in the English program by September 2012, at the earliest, pending available space.




That new registrants and students in the English program, in the Wanup catchment area, residing in the Northeastern Elementary School French Immersion boundary have the option to attend Northeastern Elementary School, effective September 2011.




That Algonquin Road Public School be expanded.




That the Consortium be directed to reduce the bus ride times for students in the Wanup catchment area within 60 minutes one way, where possible.

A number of factors were considered as part of the review process, including the range of program offerings for students, the learning environment at the school, and the proximity of the school to students. Other factors, such as enrolment, operating costs, and capital needs, were also considered, within the following guiding principles – to ensure that all students continue to have access to the best programming possible in quality school facilities, to reduce surplus space, and to ensure the sustainability of existing programs and services for all students of the Board.

In delivering Administrative Council’s final report to trustees, Director of Education Norm Blaseg indicated that additional capital expenditures for Algonquin Road Public School, MacLeod Public School and Monetville Public School are contingent on obtaining funding from the Ministry of Education.

“Administrative Council will propose a business plan for the Ministry of Education to obtain capital funds,” he said. “In order to be considered by the Ministry, the plan must demonstrate a reduction in surplus space and operating costs.” He added: “It is clearly our goal to obtain as much funding as possible from the Ministry and invest those dollars in sustainable solutions that provide the best learning opportunities possible for our students.”

The Administrative Council’s final report on the accommodation of students in Sudbury South Area Schools is available online at rainbowschools.ca. Click on “accommodation” under “highlights”.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,

Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,

Rainbow District School Board, 674-3171, ext. 7217.