Near North Board rebrands schools, sets programs

The Near North District School Board has renamed Chippewa and West Ferris high schools and announced that Widdifield will close in September next year.

Last September trustees approved the consolidation of three North Bay secondary schools into two schools with the renaming and rebranding of the West Ferris (South) and Chippewa (North) sites. 

In a news release, the board says, "Since that time staff in all three schools have collaborated to discuss how best to use this opportunity to enhance student program options. There is much transition planning ahead which will take some time to complete.  The planning of transition activities will involve student, parent and staff voice."

Board Chair David Thompson told BayToday, "Today’s announcement sets the consolidation framework to move forward in creating two 7-12 schools that will have balanced enrolments and offer a variety of viable and exciting programs for current and future NNDSB students.These decisions have not been easy but we have had very frank and fulsome discussions with our final focus being what is in the best interest of our students. This is a starting point that does not answer everyone’s questions at this time but certainly provides a new direction.”

Thompson says final naming of the schools has yet to be determined.

The Board posted its transition programming framework this afternoon.

The following programs will be fully implemented in September of 2019:

Parents of students who attend the Board’s Extended French program and the Sunset Park French Immersion program will receive an invitation to attend an information meeting in the coming weeks (Chippewa, Sunset Park and W.J. Fricker).