Members of the Ontario Public School Boards Association recently asked the Province to look at rescinding a ban on school closures that was enacted in 2017.

They said it was never intended to be in place for six years and it was time to remove it.

Avon Maitland Superintendent of Corporate Services Cheri Carter says any decision on adjustment would be outside of her responsibility and wouldn’t be made by the board until after their accommodation report had been completed. But Carter also points out that six years ago, excess space in school due to declining enrolment was a huge concern. But Carter says that’s no longer an issue in many areas. She says the latest enrolment projections were announced at their last board meeting and they indicate they can expect twelve hundred new students.

“Twelve hundred new students in the next ten years in elementary kind of changes things a little bit for us. But at this point my priority, in my role, would be to find new spaces for the kids that are coming into the system,” Carter explained.

Carter says there are a few options, including boundary adjustments.

“Boundary adjustments is one tool you have. Temporary accommodation is a tool that we can use too, what I mean here is portables. If we don’t have space in regions, like in the North Perth area for example, you could submit a capital application to see if the Ministry will give you any funding for additions,” Carter added.

But Carter points out the Ministry doesn’t provide funding based on enrolment projects. The students have to already be in the school, likely in portables, to justify funding for additions to a school. Carter says after years of dealing with declining enrolment, addressing an increase in enrolment is a new experience, so they’ll just have to see where it takes them.