R.L. Beattie may move senior students to Lo-Ellen

When the new school year starts in September, R. L. Beattie Public School's Grade 7 and 8 students could be transferred to Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School.

The Rainbow District School Board first proposed plans to transfer around 80 Grade 7 and 8 students to Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School in late January.

“We're dealing with an enrollment pressure,” said Norm Blaseg, the Rainbow District School Board's director of education. “Our French immersion schools are typically our growth schools.”

Due to the growing popularity of French immersion in the school board, Blaseg said R. L. Beattie is preparing for a large influx of new JK students in the next school year.

The school is already at full capacity, said Blaseg, and has no more room to expand through construction.

The school board hosted a community consultation on Feb. 25 to inform parents about the proposed plans for R. L. Beattie's Grade 7 and 8 students.

“That was very well received,” Blaseg said.

Parents had some health and safety concerns, he said, but were generally open to the idea.

The Rainbow District School Board trustees are expected to decide on March 22 whether they will transfer the students to Lo-Ellen Park.

If Lo-Ellen Park takes in the students, a second gymnasium would need to be build at the school to accommodate the new students' different schedules and extra-curricular activities, Northern Life was told.

To reclaim five classrooms, the school board would also transfer education centre staff – currently at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School – to a new facility at the former Wembley Public School site.