Possible Stayner ARC to address declining enrolment, Byng repairs
The Simcoe County District School Board is initiating a process to determine the fate of three Clearview Township schools.
On March 4, trustees approved a 2014 capital plan and therein a recommendation that an accommodation review committee (ARC) be created to “evaluate the accommodation pressures within the community of Stayner”.
The review could result in the closure of Byng Public School and the expansion of Clearview Meadows Elementary School, both located in Stayner. It could also result in the expansion of Stayner Collegiate Institute (SCI). It is possible that Clearview Meadows would accommodate students in kindergarten through Grade 6 while student in Grades 7-12 would go to SCI.
“This model will ensure that Stayner will always have a high school. Enrolment is at an all time low at SCI. This will ensure that the school remains a part of that community and we know how important that is,” said Annie Chandler, trustee for Clearview and Collingwood. “If the capital plan rolls out as its presented, it would ensure a strong community hub of a high school and an elementary school.”
While enrolment at Clearview Meadows is on the rise, enrolment at Byng is declining and there are structural issues at Byng.
Improvements to Byng, constructed in 1922, are pegged at $5.3 million with another $3 million for accessibility, including the installation of an elevator.
Currently, part of the library is closed because of severe structural issues.
A letter was sent home with Byng students last week.
“This transition would provide benefits for students in regards to programming and facilities and address the facility challenges that Byng faces,” writes Byng principal Joyce Smith. “Upon completion of the ARC, the board would request funding from the Ministry for an addition/renovation at SCI and at Clearview Meadows. This type of transition to a K-6 and 7-12 model has taken place in boards across the province, although it would be one of the first of its kind in Simcoe County.”
Chandler said she and other school board officials are planning visits to two Grade 7-12 schools, in Goderich and Hanover, to learn more about the logistics and programming.
Some of the advantages she is hearing about include access to programming and a smooth transition to high school because the elementary and secondary school teachers are in close communication.
The board is waiting for new ARC guidelines and policies to come down from the Ministry of Education before the review gets under way.
“People need to understand that this is going to take two to three years to roll out in its entirety. It’s not going to be until January or February that we start the ARC,” said Chandler.
The capital plan, including the ARC, will go before trustees on March 25 for final approval.
The ARC will include opportunities for public participation and input.
SCI was last included in an ARC in 2008-2009, when it was included in a review of five area high schools with Wasaga Beach included as a possible location for a new school. In the end, the ARC recommended the school board maintain status quo.
• Byng Public School was constructed in 1922 with additions in 1971 and 1995 and is situated on a 3.4-acre site. The school has an On The Ground (OTG) capacity of 303 pupils. The mechanical, electrical and structural systems are failing. Improvements to most interior finishes and building envelope are required. Classrooms do not have sufficient electrical service. Minimum life safety systems are present but do not meet the requirements of the current code. Significant lighting replacements are required. The school is not accessible. Byng is located at 239 William St.
• Clearview Meadows Elementary School was constructed in 2001 and is situated on a 5-acre site. The school has an OTG capacity of 213 pupils. The mechanical, electrical and structural systems are in good condition. The building is in good condition. Overall cosmetics and programming space are in good condition. Life safety systems will be upgraded in the summer of 2015 and will meet the requirements of the current code. The school is currently accessible. Clearview Meadows is located at 12 Locke Ave.
• Stayner Collegiate Institute was constructed in 1961 with additions in 1995 and 2014 and is situated on a 14.6-acre site. The school has an OTG capacity of 387. A six-room “portapack” was added in 1987, which is in very poor condition, requiring removal. The mechanical, electrical and structural systems are in fair to good condition. The building is in good condition. Overall cosmetics and programming space are in poor condition. Life safety systems are present and currently meet the requirements of the current code. The school is currently accessible.