Committees debating the future of several London schools oppose plans to close three schools, saying the closures would harm students and, in the case of Lorne Avenue elementary school, Old East Village, too
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Two contentious school-closing committees in London recently finished their work and presented their recommendations to the Thames Valley District school board.
In both cases, the committees rejected administrators? recommendations and asked that schools remain open.
Thames Valley staff has 30 days to come up with a response, and that will once again go for public input.
Two months after that, the school board will make a final decision.
Education reporter Kate Dubinski lays out the two committees? recommendations:
Clarke Road, Montcalm, Beal, Saunders, Ross and Thames secondary schools
Administration?s recommendations:
Close Thames and Ross, redistribute students among the others; enhance programming at Clarke Road, Montcalm and Saunders to make them ?emphasis technology schools,? offering tech options.
Committee?s recommendation:
Combine Ross and Thames into one school to be known as a ?vocational school of excellence.?
What?s at stake:
Success stories told by graduates and parents convinced the committee that ?some of our most at-risk students need the small numbers, the vocational programs and the place to feel accepted that other schools can?t offer,? said committee chair and trustee Ruth Tisdale. Ross and Thames offer unique vocational programs and specialized one-on-one attention.
Other recommendations/options:
Expand programming at the one vocational school; make sure Thames or Ross students who choose to go to a different school get additional supports.
Bishop Townshend, Lord Roberts, Lorne Avenue and St. George?s elementary schools
Administration?s recommendations:
Close Lorne Avenue in June 2014 and redistribute its students; renovate Bishop Townshend, including $3.7-million addition; give St. George?s a bigger parking lot, keep Lord Roberts as French immersion.
Committee?s recommendation:
Keep all schools open
What?s at stake:
Many unique programs offered at Lorne Avenue (cooking, weaving, English as a second language, child care, YMCA programs); it?s an important part of the rebirth of Old East Village, a walkable community; Bishop Townshend is perfect as-is and doesn?t need expansion.
Other recommendations/options:
Partner with city and others to put more programs into Lorne Avenue; add solar panels to Lorne Avenue for additional cash; use the $600,000 generated from ESL program for operating costs; expand special education at St. George?s; make Lorne Avenue a performing arts school; make Lorne Avenue a French immersion school or give it a year-round schooling schedule; demolish part of Lorne Avenue to make it smaller.
Source: http://www.lfpress.com/2013/03/11/school-closing-committees-say-closures-would-harm-students
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