The Rainbow District School Board will host public consultations next year on one school within the Greater Sudbury area. At the annual Accommodation Meeting held on Dec. 10 the Board established an Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) for Wembley Public School.
The ARC will look at the value of the school to the students, the community, the school board and the local economy, in accordance with the Ministry of Education's pupil accommodation review guidelines.
“Decisions will be made with the full involvement of an informed local community based on a broad range of criteria regarding the quality of the learning experience for students,” said Rainbow District School Board Director of Education Jean Hanson, in a news release.
Parents/guardians and the community at large will have an opportunity to provide input as the consultative process unfolds.
“Our accommodation review will ensure that students continue to have access to the best programming possible in quality school facilities,” said Hanson.
A number of factors will be considered as part of the review process, including the quality of the learning environment at the school, the range of program offerings, the adequacy of the school's physical space to support student learning, and the proximity of the school to students. Other factors, such as enrolment, operating costs, and capital needs, will also be considered.
Public meetings will be announced early in the new year.
“Following these meetings, the Accommodation Review Committee will submit a report with recommendations to the Board's Administrative Council,” said Hanson. “The community will have an
opportunity to review recommendations before they are presented to the Board.”
Any changes that may be approved would take effect in September 2009.
Accommodation Review Committee members will be drawn from the school community and the broader community, including parents, educators and school board officials, as well as business and municipal leaders.
