THUNDER BAY -- After collecting more than 1,000 signatures in 11 days, a group of parents determined to keep Hammarskjold High School off the Lakehead District School Board’s closure list is planning to host an open house for parents and students.
To co-ordinate efforts, they’ve formed the Choose Hammarskjold Committee, which the group says was designed to promote the school as the best option available for board trustees to “encourage future success and well-being of every high school student on the north side of our city.”
In a release issued on Friday, committee members said there continues to be ongoing confusion surrounding the board’s accommodation review committee renewal plan, which will be used to determine possible future school closures, and what role the public will play in the process.
Earlier this year the board presented a number of school closure options as a way to consolidate services and cut costs.
Under the renewal plan, Sir Winston Churchill and Collegiate and Vocational Institute would close in June 2017 with Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute becoming the south high school. In addition, Agnew H. Johnston and Edgewater Park public schools would both close and a new elementary school would be built on the Churchill site to open in September 2018.
Two elementary schools, Hyde Park and Kingsway Park public schools, would also be consolidated. The resolution also directed administration to submit a business case to the ministry for an addition to Kingsway that can allow the building to accommodate students from both schools.
The north side plan proposes either closing Hammarskjold High School and sending those students to Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute or turning Superior into an elementary school and leaving Hammarskjold as the lone north high school.
Under the first option Vance Chapman Public School would be expanded and accept students from St. James and C.D. Howe public schools, which would close. If Superior became an elementary school all three of those would close.
“To help support concerned parents and students, the Hammarskjold School Council will be holding a parent and student information session on Thursday, April 7. This session will provide the Hammarskjold community with the opportunity to learn more about the ARC process as well as the Choose Hammarskjold campaign and opportunities for input,” said CHC chairwoman Cheri Lappage in a release.
The north side public consultation is scheduled for April 11 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute. The south-side meeting is slated for April 7 at Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The petition can be found here.
-- With files from Matt Vis
