Jay Aspin, the chair of the Near North District School Board, says it’s the goal of the new board to clear up the uncertainties surrounding the Grade 7 and 8 W.J. Fricker students sooner than later.
The final future destination for the students remains uncertain because of the unknown future for Widdifield Secondary School.
The previous board ruled out closing Widdifield next June and left it to the incoming board to decide Widdifield’s fate after that time.
Aspin told Moose News that the new board wants more information about the Fricker situation with the aim of deciding the school’s fate by the end of January.
Aspin says the students face a programming deadline by the end of February so that the school knows what to prepare for in the next school year.
“We can’t keep going in a merry-go-round,” Aspin said.
“Unless we clear up this uncertainty we’re just going to propagate it.”
Trustees are expected to start an early debate on the Fricker situation at their board meeting next Tuesday.
Aspin also said the new trustees are committed to a “complete review” of the Widdifield/Chippewa closure debate.
He says right now the board is waiting for the Ombudsman’s report on the ARC process looking at school closures and whether the process was transparent.
Aspin is among the trustees who maintain the process was not transparent.
He says the Ombudsman’s interim report is expected in January which the school board may comment on with the final report expected in March.
Depending on what the report finds, Moose News asked Aspin if it was possible to re-start the ARC process.
“It’s a distinct possibility,” he said.
“And it will take a little time.”