Review-Mirror

The Upper Canada Disitrct School Board has set the date for public meetings over their plan to close as many as 29 schools across the sprawl- ing board. On September 28, 2016 the UCDSB Board of Trustees approved a motion to embark on a process called the Build- ing for the Future Pupil Accommodation Review (PAR). A report presented by Superintendent Phil Dawes included recom- mendations for the Rideau Family of schools includ- ing the closure of Rideau Centennial effective in June 2017. It also suggests the clo- sure of Sweet Corners School if funds became available for capital improvements to accom- modate those students at South Crosby in Elgin. The addition of Rideau Centennial and Sweets Corners students would put the current South Crosby School at more than 120 per cent of its capacity. Last Wenesday, trustees defeated a motion by Trustee Jonh McAllis- ter at their regular meet- ing last Wednesday night that would have rescinded an earlier decision to launch the review. After an orientation meeting for Accommoda- tion Review members Monday in Smiths Falls, public meetings have been set up for November and January. The first, for the Rideau Family of Schools, will be Nov 16 at Perth and District Colle- giate. The second will be Jan. 30 at Smiths Falls District Collegiate. The same two meetings also cover Smiths Falls, Perth, Almonte and Carleton Place school groups. Both are at 6:30 p.m. The process was ini- tially approved after changes to provincial funding rules prompted the Upper Canada District School Board to examine underutilized school space with the overall objective that the consoli- dation of student spaces will improve efficiency and lead to better learning environments for stu- dents. After the meeting, Chair Jeff McMillan stressed the Review will provide an opportunity for public discussion on the best options for school consolidation so the most appropriate solutions can be found. "I don't want anyone to have the impression that decisions have already been made," said McMil- lan. "The Board of Trustees won't be making any final decisions about school closures until we've heard from our communities and their input has been fully con- sidered." The consolidations could allow the board to present business plans to the Ministry of Education to upgrade its inventory of schools and even build new ones. The board currently has more than 9,800 sur- plus pupil spaces, which are no longer directly funded by the Ministry of Education. If these excess spaces are not reduced, the board will be required to direct resources currently devot- ed to school programs and other priorities to operate and support these surplus spaces. Consolidation of space furthers efforts to seek additional funding from the Ministry of Education for capital upgrades to schools including the rebuild of school facili- ties. The moves would also reduce the need for split grades in one classroom and allow access to a greater number of staff to serve students. John Rollo's writing of the book Baby Steps was another chapter in a jour- ney which has taken him through surgery, post-op complications and recov- ery as a double amputee. The retired business owner lost his feet after a series of medical interven- tions which included back surgery, a triple bypass, a drug induced coma and a serious infection. When he woke up from the coma a month later after heart and back surgery he had no memory of the past month and learned he would be an amputee. A loss of blood flow to his feet had result- ed in his feet turning black and dying of dry gan- grene. For Rollo taking 'baby steps' has taken him to a point in recovery since 2013 where it may be as good as it's going to get. 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