What programs students will be able to take advantage of in the future is top on the agenda as the Near North District School Board recently approved its 5-year capital plan.
That plan includes a recommendation that the three Near North high schools in Widdifield, Chippewa and West Ferris combine under one roof for a potential 2,400 grade 7 to 12 North Bay super school potentially at a new location yet to be determined.
David Thompson, the Near North District School Board Chair, says new funding reforms from the ministry of education are making it challenging as the local board receives funding relating to the amount of students at the schools.
“We have six high schools for a population of 54,000, that’s a lot of high schools,” said Thompson noting the other high schools are outside the Near North Board.
“By 2021 you are only going to have 1,900 high school students - that’s 9 to 12 - in the three high schools,” said Thompson.
“Then there’s the funding, but you only get paid for the amount of students, so you are maintaining all the surplus space and not getting funded for it so all those factors are driving this process.”
On top of that, the ministry has pointed out that all three of those Near North high schools need about $15 million in repairs at each facility.
Despite those renovation numbers, Thompson insists programming is going to be the underlying decision-maker for the capital plan in North Bay.
“When you don't have as many students in school, you can’t offer all the programming. In high school, particularly grades 11 and 12, those who are going to post-secondary, they need certain courses and if they can’t be offered on a per-semester basis, then it’s very tough and it becomes ‘if I can’t take this course I have to come back next year,’” stated Thompson.
Thompson notes the amalgamation model is working in North Bay already. He says Woodland is setting a good example.
“Now we’ve got 57 kids at Woodland taking Ojibway, that couldn’t happen in smaller schools,” said Thompson.
“So that’s a good example of what a larger high school is capable of.”
Thompson says the board will continue to gather more information and meet with community partners to assess the situation. Even though that may take some time, the board wants to ensure it covers all its bases to allow the board to make an informed decision on the future of Near North high schools.
