Our Lady of the Way School's future to be reviewed, due to declining enrolment and rising costs

Editor's Note: We did not receive this press release until after our Feb. 5, 2013 publication date. Due to the urgency of the deadline for people to join the committee we chose to publish it here on our site.
PRESS RELEASE
February 1, 2013
NORTHWEST CATHOLIC
Approves Accommodation Review
At the January Board Meeting of the Northwest Catholic District School Board, the Board moved a motion to
initiate an “Accommodation Review Process” for Our Lady of the Way School in Stratton. Superintendent of
Business, Chris Howarth, reported to the Board that, “Due to the declining enrolment the expenditures of
operating the school are exceeding the revenues by $200,000.00.” Board Chair Anne-Marie Fitzgerald
stated that, “An Accommodation Review is an option for the Board enabling the School Board to consider
program and facility approaches over the long term, as well as an opportunity to consult with our local
communities on the challenges and the potential opportunities in meeting student and community needs.”
Director Kelly added that, “An Accommodation Review involving community consultation is an important part
of the process, and we encourage the community members to volunteer for the Accommodation Review
Committee and/or attend local meetings to express their views about a potential school closure and/or
provide new ideas or to make recommendations to trustees to support the continuance of the school. The
ARC and the community will have the opportunity to make recommendations to the Board regarding the
school’s value to the students, the community and the local economy.”
The mandate of the Accommodation Review Committee will be to make recommendations regarding the
future of Our Lady of the Way School. Based on the Northwest Catholic Board Procedure and Terms of
Reference, the ARC membership includes representation from the school council, a staff member, the school
principal, a parent of a student at the school, representation from the First Nation community, a local
municipality and/or a business representative, a Diocese appointed representative and the Superintendent
of Education. The role of the ARC is to make every effort to come to consensus on recommendations from
the community, and when consensus cannot be reached the voting process will be utilized. The Board
personnel will be non-voting members.
The ARC assumes an advisory role including its recommendation to the Board. Administration will review the
Accommodation Review Report and make a recommendation in a separate report to the Board of Trustees.
The Administrative staff will complete a school profile report for the school and provide it to the ARC for
review. The ARC will ensure that a wide breadth of school and community groups are provided with the
opportunity to participate in the review. Director Kelly stated that, “The ARC will hold a minimum of four
public meetings and all in attendance will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide input. A
secretary will record attendance and keep minutes of the meetings that reflect the full range of opinions
expressed. Minutes will be made available to the public and all relevant information relating to the
Accommodation Review will be made available on the Board’s website http://www.tncdsb.on.ca. Chair
Fitzgerald said that, “The ARC is currently being formed, and if community members are interested in being
considered as a member of the Accommodation Review Committee, they must submit their name to Mr.
Chris Howarth, Superintendent of Business by phone 877-235-4663 extension 1024 and/or email
chowarth@tncdsb.on.ca by February 11, 2013.”