Quote:
Originally Posted by TbayON
Lakehead Public Schools is looking seriously at rationalizing their operations in Thunder Bay. Included in the plans are halving their number of high schools from 4 to 2, and closing a number of underutilized elementary schools. Several options are on the table affecting different schools in different ways
A number of additions and/or new structures may be required depending on which direction the board takes. I'm thinking anywhere from $50-$100 million could be spent. A significant spin-off construction effect could also be created when developers get their hands on the closed schools. Should all unfold by October 2016, when the board makes its final decisions.
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Closing schools is going to be a long, hard fight. Rational thoughts seem to go right out the window where school closings are concerned. Having been in schools that were slated to be closed as well as being part of the intake schools at other times I can say that everyone takes this very personally.
That being said Thunder Bay has gone from 10 public high schools and 2 catholic high schools 35 years ago to what is now 4 public high schools, 2 catholic high schools, 1 french catholic high school, and 1 independent high school (and a second in the planning stages). We also have one year less of high school education (no more Grade 13/OAC) which means less students in the system. These are the facts that will be thrown out and the public will disregard because "Think of the Children."
I suspect that this will be highly political and there will be some very public debates before October. People are going to get very very angry, especially concerning the proposed grade school closures. This is one of those things that is far from being over, more like just beginning.