Elementaries examined

Annapolis Valley Regional School Board (AVRSB) is rolling out phase two of the school review process initiated in 2008.

Three options are being presented in the Hants West school review process. They address the excess capacity existing in seven elementary schools while factoring in the AVRSB’s new grade configuration model. In January, the board’s referred grade configurations were amended to include primary to grade five for elementary schools; grades six to eight for middle schools and grades nine to 12 for high schools.

Students in Hants West are currently served by seven elementary schools, located in the county and Windsor. They include Brooklyn District School (BDS), Dr. Arthur Hines Elementary School (DAHES), Falmouth District School (FDS), Newport Station District School (NSDS), Three Mile Plains District School (TMPDS), Windsor Elementary School (WES) and Windsor Forks District School (WFDS). All seven are P-6 schools, with students moving to West Hants Middle School (WHMS) for grades seven to nine and Avon View High School (AVHS) for grades 10 to 12.

Under the first option, the number of elementary schools in Windsor/Hants West would be reduced from seven to six. Among the existing elementary schools, BDS is the largest in population and FDS and WFDS are the closest to capacity. WES is still a relatively new school and TMPDS has been approved for a gymnasium addition and interior renovations. Of the two smallest schools, DAHES is the most remote, located 17.8 km from BDS, the nearest elementary school. NSDS is located 3.1 km from TMPDS and 7.8 km from BDS.

The second option under consideration incorporates the first option, reducing the number of schools from seven to six ,and initiating a grade reconfiguration. Schools would be realigned to a P-5 structure in the remaining six elementary schools, WHMS would serve students in grades six to eight and grades nine to 12 would be accommodated at AVHS. This configuration would achieve the School Board’s educational program objective and would also ease the capacity pressures that currently exist at WFDS and FDS. This option would also provide additional capacity in the remaining elementary schools, should significant population growth predicted in some models occur.

The third option for consideration is to carry out the grade reconfiguration but retain all seven of the elementary schools for grades primary to five. This option would achieve the Board’s preferred educational program delivery and allow each community to retain its school, but increases the overcapacity issue with the elementary schools. This fact will have to be addressed in the future as some schools will require significant investments to be maintained for the long term and currently have no approved capital renovation project.

Tait says the options have not been prioritized by the school board and no decisions will be made until the public consultation wraps up.

Public meetings are planned for November to review the options and continue the process of reviewing programming and grade configurations within schools throughout the region. The Hants West school review meeting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. November 18 at Avon View. “All options will be reviewed at the meeting and there will be an opportunity for public comment and presentations,” says Tait. Written submissions relevant to the three options can be submitted to the school board until December 31.