The Greater Essex County District School Board now has a decision to make after receiving two scenarios outlining the possible future of public schools in the county.
The Program and Accommodation Review Committee looked at General Amherst, Harrow District, Harrow Public School, Kingsville District and Western Secondary to address enrollment concerns.
Committee Chair Bill Orawski says the process was challenging. "We laughed, we cried, we had long, long discussions and sometimes we accomplished nothing for several of our meetings," Orawski says. "It was difficult because we wanted to present something that was as viable as possible."
Option 1 keeps Western Secondary and General Amherst, builds a new JK-12 school in Kingsville and keeps Harrow District until a new school is built.
Option 2, which the committee says is more cost effective, moves Western Secondary students into General Amherst, forms a JK-12 in Harrow and builds a new JK-12 school in Kingsville.
The board will make a final decision on October 13.
Greater Essex County District School Board Trustee Alan Halberstadt, June 2, 2015. (Photo by Jason Viau)
Greater Essex County District School Board Trustee Tom Kilpatrick, right, and trustee Ron LeClair, June 2, 2015. (Photo by Jason Viau)