| Division decides to close Coutts school |
 |
 |
 |
| Local Content - Local News |
| Written by production |
| Wednesday, 03 March 2010 16:57 |
|
It is a circumstance many school boards have to deal with that have small rural populations within its jurisdiction. After much deliberation with stakeholders, the Horizon school board passed a notice of motion at its Feb. 23 board meeting to close Coutts Community School. Ward 5 trustee Terry Michaelis dissented. Over the past three years, Coutts Community School has experienced significant enrollment decline. The current enrollment is 23 students from Grade 1 to Grade 8, and no students are enrolled in kindergarten. A phone survey of parents conducted to determine enrollment for 2010-2011 concluded there were two students completely committed to attending the school and up to six students committed if some program conditions were met. “It is always with trepidation and heavy hearts that we make a recommendation for school closures,” said Cheryl Gilmore, superintendent of schools for Horizon. “This decision is being made by what I believe is a very thorough gathering of parental perspective. For some people it was peer relationships, for some parents it was multiple grades in a classroom and for some they felt their kids would be disadvantaged because of a lack of extra-curricular activities.” All students affected would need bussing transportation to Milk River Elementary School (Kindergarten to Grade 5) which has a current enrollment of 62 students or Erle Rivers High School (Grade 6 to Grade 12) and its enrollment of 79 students. The schools are 21 kilometres north of Coutts. “Both schools easily have the capacity to include the students from Coutts,” said Gilmore. Subject to ministerial approval, the board would provide the Coutts Village Council an opportunity to purchase the Coutts Community School building at a nominal cost to pursue community activities. “We cannot underestimate the negative impact (closing the school) will have on a community. It may have some impact on the perceived viability of the community. It has traditionally been an active community and some rural communities that have lost their school in other areas have been very proactive in establishing community centres.” Going to Milk River, the Coutts students will be in classrooms with fewer grade levels and reduced need for cycling of curriculum necessary to accommodate multiple grades in one classroom. Students will also have access to extra-curricular activities not possible with projected numbers at Coutts Community School. With respect to operational costs, there will be savings in staffing of approximately $95,000, given the economy of scale and ample room in classrooms in both Milk River schools. The Coutts school plant operation and maintenance costs for the 2008/2009 school year were calculated at $141,900 which included utilities, caretaking services/supplies/equipment, insurance and maintenance of grounds. The continuing-contract staff at Coutts Community School would be transferred to new locations. Teachers who do not have continuing contracts would be given consideration for other positions in the district, depending on suitability. Teachers who are not on continuing contracts in the receiving schools may experience loss of positions due to the movement of the continuing-contract staff. “I don’t think there is anybody here at the board table who takes this motion that is being presented lightly,” said Bruce Francis, Ward 3 trustee. “None of us wanted to get to this point. I believe we are doing this for the best for the children’s education. The superintendent is charged with the responsibility to ensure as best as possible that the educational needs of all students are met. I think that is paramount in this. As a board, that is our responsibility to make sure that happens.” A notice of motion means a process guided by provincial policy will follow to gather further perspectives and information prior to making a final decision at Horizon’s April, 2010 board meeting. All parents of students residing within the Coutts attendance area will receive a letter outlining the areas of consideration and invite them to an open community meeting scheduled for March 29 at 7 p.m. in the Coutts Community School gymnasium. One section of the Coutts Community School was constructed in 1937 and another section was added in 1954. The school went under a modernization in 1980. |
Please Login
More Story Headlines
| Stingy Rebels defeat Canmore With a few key players missing on offence, it was the defence that had to be relied on more heavily [ ... ] |
| Phys. ed teacher takes over athletic director helm The biggest school in the Town of Taber has a new athletic director within its walls. |
| Celtics looking to end on high note It would be quite apt if the St. Mary’s Celtics senior varsity boys volleyball team’s theme song [ ... ] |
| Community volunteers have a vital role to fill It takes all kinds of people to make the world go round and therefore the same should hold true for [ ... ] |