A public consultation meeting for parents and guardians on the potential closure of Southview Community Schools begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Medicine Hat Public School Division Central Office while a public consultation meeting on the potential closure of Webster Niblock School begins tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria at Medicine Hat High School. - NEWS FILE PHOTO
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Parents and guardians of students who attend Southview Community School will have their opportunity to address the school division and share feedback and concerns during a public consultation meeting tonight, and Webster Niblock parents tomorrow night, as the division is considering permanently closing both schools to save resources.
In November, the school division reached out to families of students of the two elementary schools with information the board of trustees is considering the potential closure of the schools as a broader effort to optimize resources and enhance student programming at other schools.
The public town hall for Southview Community Schools begins tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Medicine Hat Public School Division Central Office.
The public town hall for Webster Niblock School begins tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria at Medicine Hat High School.
Southview Community School opened its doors in 1977 and serves approximately 180 elementary school students while Webster Niblock School opened in the 1980s and serves approximately 200 students.
“We understand that the possibility of change can feel overwhelming,” said Tracy Hensel, superintendent. “Our goal is to provide every student with access to high-quality instructional programming and learning environments. By consolidating resources, we would be in a better position to support our staff and students in the classroom.”
Board chair Catherine Wilson says the division is facing budget challenges keeping all 17 local schools operating optimally, and trustees have been working with education officials and architects for more than a year to analyze and evaluate all possibilities.
Last October the division began to analyze resources and spending and identify any opportunities of cost savings.
The evaluation period lasted more than a month and after various criteria were considered, such as enrollment, use of resources, modern learning spaces and other schools in proximity, both Southview and Webster Niblock were identified as posing the largest financial challenges to maintain.
Both elementary schools have enrollment below 200 students, and Wilson says the cost to maintain the older structures is going to continue to rise, and that funding used for infrastructure could be better utilized to support student education.
Wilson says the evaluation period highlighted the challenge MHPSD faces with a growing number of small schools and complexities that arise in programming, class structure, resource allocation and operations.
“I believe honestly for the long term, when you look at this, ‘right-sizing’ our schools is going to ensure that all of these programs and services stay intact for longer periods of time, I truly believe that,” she said.
Trustees are expected to analyze all feedback immediately following the public meeting and are expected to make a decision by Jan. 6.
If the closures are approved, transition support and planning will begin Jan. 12, however students would not transfer until next fall.
