Final round of accommodations review set to go

Near North District School Board
News Release

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The Near North District School Board’s fourth and final 2008 Pupil Accommodations Review Committee (ARC) meetings will conclude this month.

The ARC meetings have been designed as a forum to provide public input to the ARC volunteers. This provincial process has been created as a community-wide initiative to help identify ways in which better educational programs and facilities can be offered to the students of the region.

“This is an essential process for our school board and one that I am confident will result in the students of our region receiving the best possible education that we can provide; something that our board has always prided ourselves in achieving,” Near North District School Board Director Heli Vail said.

The ARC review has been identifying means in which the school board could streamline their resources and combine the efforts of different groups to provide a superior educational program to all students.

People seeking additional information on the Accommodations Review are encouraged to visit www.nearnorthschools.ca where they can find the information under PARENTS → PUPIL ACCOMMODATION PROJECT that will take them to the main ARC webpage.

The reports to the Board by each of the 2008 ARCs will take place at the public board meeting on Tuesday, March 25 at 6:00 pm. The Board will then take two months to discuss the recommendations from the ARCs and Administration. During that time frame, meeting have been scheduled to allow the public the opportunity to present directly to the trustees before making its final decision(s) on May 27, 2008.

Special Board Meetings:

• Wednesday, April 9 – Phelps / E.W. Norman – 6:00 pm at Chippewa SS Auditorium

• Thursday, April 10 - Marshall Park / Tweedsmuir / Sunset Park – 6:30 pm at West Ferris SS Auditorium

• Monday, April 14 - McDougall / Nobel / Victory / William Beatty – 6: 00 pm at Parry Sound High School Cafeteria
or

• Regular Board Meetings: Tuesday April 22 or Tuesday May 27.

Those interested in presenting should review the Public Update March 5, 2008 on the website for guidelines on presentations. http://www.nearnorthschools.ca/docs/accommodation/Public%20Update%20March%205.08.pdf

“This project has been designed with the best interests of our students in mind and the input of parents is highly encouraged – the community and school board have always enjoyed a strong relationship and we welcome everyone to attend these sessions,” Vail stated.

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