A newly released multi-year plan (2011-2014) by the Eastern School District is proposing some dramatic changes in the way education is delivered in the region, especially in the Lower Trinity South area, where closures and reconfigurations are in the offing.
Siting factors such as declining enrolments, concerns about multi-grading and staff allocations, and program offerings, the board is proposing to close Whitbourne Elementary and Epiphany Elementary in Heart's Delight at the end of this school year.
As a result, the catchment areas for Acreman Elementary in Green's Harbour and Woodland Elementary in Dildo will be enlarged. All four are Kindergarten to Grade 6 schools that feed into Crescent Collegiate in Blaketown.
No changes are proposed for Crescent.
Board chairman Milton Peach of Carbonear said the distances students will be transported by bus are "not unreasonable," and are in the "normal range."
Whitbourne to Green's Harbour, for example, is 19 kilometres, while Heart's Delight is 17 kilometres from Green's Harbour.
"We want to ensure top-quality programming in facilities that are conducive to good learning," said Peach.
For more comprehensive coverage of the proposed changes, pick up a copy of the Oct. 9, 2012 print edition of The Compass
editor@cbncompass.ca
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Public hearings for Eastern School District multi-year plan
• Oct. 29 — Crescent Collegiate, Blaketown;
• Oct. 30 — Roncalli High school, Avondale.
Note: hearings begin at 6:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to make a presentation (maximum 10 minutes) must schedule an appointment by calling 758-2381 or emailing maureensheppard@esdnl.ca. Written submissions will be accepted no later than Oct. 30.
Source: Eastern School District
