The Accomodation Review Committee process for Hanover and Chesley schools will be extended by 30 days.
ARC Co-Chair Salim Shaw says the extension is needed so committee members can assess new information that was presented at Thursday night’s meeting in Chesley.
It was almost a full house at Chesley District High School as students, parents and concerned citizens rallied in support of CDHS and John Diefenbaker secondary in Hanover.
The meeting got underway with guest speaker Jack Ammendolia presenting a projection of future enrolment at CDHS, which shows a potential decline in enrolment going forward.
This helped lend a lot of public support to the idea of a K-12 school system for Chesley, a model which Shaw says the ARC is studying closely.
As public presenters took the podium, the overwheliming consensus was that Chesley must keep a school in some form, be it a consolidated K-12 model or a grade 7 to 12 option.
Hanover schools were also well represented, and the main concern many Hanover citzens had was the potential loss of technology-based programs and co-op placements that may be unavailable if Chesley students were to be bussed to JDSS.
Other options being considered include a new 4-12 district school, a JK-6 school at CDHS, and a dual track school for French Immersion students.
Shaw says the ARC has also come up with a new criteria to rate the options for the schools based on value to the students, the community, the board and the local economy.
The next public ARC meeting is March 29th at JDSS in Hanover.
