Lakehead Public Schools hope to offer better education with fewer schools

Superior Morning10:20High School Closures

In just a few years the number of public high schools could be down to two. The public board is looking at a number of school consolidation options for both elementary and high schools

The Lakehead District School Boardproposal to have fewerschools in Thunder Bay will equal more benefits for students, according to one high-ranking official.

That sentiment was pushed forwardat a meeting Tuesday where board trustees went over proposed options for closures and consolidations of Thunder Bay's elementary and high schools.

David Wright, business superintendent for the board, said pupils can benefit if schools with healthier enrolment numbers are able to provide better programs for students.

• Lakehead public school board considers school closures

"The enrolment we're projecting for four secondary schools won't really allow us to maintain such a breadth of programming that we would like to ... so it's an opportunity for us to provide our secondary students with all the options we can."

The board is looking to shrink the number of high schools in Thunder Bay from four to two with each serving either the north or south side of the city.

Wright said Sir Winston Churchill Collegiate andVocational Institute is being considered for closure instead ofWestgate Collegiate andVocational Institute because the building will be more difficult to maintain and update in the long term.

"For secondary students, although there's a lot of history in our schools, and people get really tied to their schools, the opportunities for programming for secondary students is really going to be the big advantage to them."

Fewer split classes?

Ensuring that more elementary schools have classes for students in junior kindergarten to Grade 8 will benefit youngsters because they won't have to change schools as often, according to Wright.

Teachers will benefit because they won't have to teach as many split classes or take on classes outside of their specialization, the businesssuperintendentnoted.

Next Tuesday, a special board meeting with trustees will vote on whether accommodation review committees are required to help review the school plans for both sides of the city.

Wright noted that the public will be consulted along the way because the board is committed to a transparent process. Families are welcome to contact the board with their questions about the potential overhaul.

No decisions will be made about the closures until next October.