NORTH PERTH – The Avon Maitland District School Board is looking at its schools’ borders and they want your input.
On Oct. 26 of last year, the AMDSB launched a boundary review in the North Perth area due to overcrowding at some schools and a space surplus in others. Seven schools were included in this review, six of which are in the Municipality of North Perth and one within the Township of Perth East:
Elma Township PS
Listowel Eastdale PS
Mornington Central PS
Milverton PS
North Perth Westfield ES
North Woods ES
Listowel District SS
In committee meetings over the course of the review, a few key findings were presented by committee members. Concerns for the long-term viability of changes were paramount. Solutions may be fine for the next 5-7 years but the board may have to consider capital investments if enrolment projections are true and North Perth continues to expand. The committee also had a preference for student groups to stick together and had concern over “walkers” needing transportation if they are moved. Fourteen out of 25 members also said they weren’t in favour of the board no longer allowing border crossing – families requesting to attend a different school. Members, especially from Listowel, favoured border crossing being reinstated.
Committee members also raised concern over Listowel Eastdale PS. Listowel Eastdale is grades JK-6 instead of JK-8. They feed into North Perth Westfield ES for grades 7 and 8. Members affiliated with Elma Township PS, Listowel Eastdale PS, and North Perth Westfield ES did not have concerns with grade 7-8 students attending secondary school.
The board hired consulting company Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. to assess and present options on the issue. Watson suggested two options, with a few additional options as well:
Option 1/A: Assign students from North Perth Westfield PS to Listowel District SS;
Option 1/B: Assign students from North Perth Westfield PS to Listowel District SS and adjust boundary between Listowel Eastdale and North Perth Westfield PS, and adjust boundary between Listowel Eastdale PS and Elma Township PS;
Option 2/A: Grade 6 from Listowel Eastdale feeds into Elma Township PS for grades 7-8;
Option 2/B: Grade 6 from Listowel Eastdale feeds into Elma Township PS for grades 7-8 and adjust boundary between Listowel Eastdale and North Perth Westfield PS.
Option 1 allows for upcoming growth, as Listowel District SS has a surplus of space at the moment. The secondary change of adjusting the boundaries will equalize enrolment between the sites. They estimate that all three sites will be under or around full capacity over the next 10 years.
Option 2 alleviates some pressure on North Perth Westfield ES and equalizes enrolment in the short term. The secondary option will also help equalize enrolment, but for longer. All three sites are estimated to be under/around full capacity over the next 10 years, just like in Option 1-B.
Watson prepared a survey to collect input from families of the schools. They and the board wish for any and all who are associated with the schools listed to provide their feedback. The committee agreed that any decision that is made must be multifaceted. There can’t be just one band-aid solution to this problem.
The survey is open from March 21 to April 3. It can be filled out at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/amdsb_np. A paper copy is also available through school offices.
