As a result of findings brought forward from the West End Schools Programming Review the Board of Trustees of Black Gold School Division, at the January 8th Regular Board Meeting, gave Notice of Motion (an announcement of a specific motion planned for a future meeting) to consider the closure of New Humble Centre School. The Board cited the extraordinarily high costs per student, enrolment numbers, population trends, deferred capital costs and the overall financial outlook of the provincial budget, as the reasons to begin the process of a School Closure.
To be clear: The Board of Trustees did not vote to close the school. They have directed administration to begin a process of information gathering and public consultation, following the steps outlined in Board Policy 15 – School Closure, in order to ensure the full spectrum of quantitative and qualitative data is gathered to allow for informed decision making. The Board has set themselves a deadline as to when the information and public responses must be gathered, reviewed and a decision made as to whether or not to close the school.
The information below highlights important steps and opportunities for all members of the New Humble Centre School community to respond to the Notice of Motion. Community members will also have an opportunity to provide responses for consideration by the Board prior to the Trustees final debate and vote upon the resolution which will take place at the Board meeting on April 22, 2020.
The Board of Trustees and administration of Black Gold School Division is committed to delivering a transparent, fair and reasonable process as they work towards arriving at a decision.
Important Dates and Information Regarding Implementation of Board Policy 15 – School Closure
January 9 – April 1 Ongoing Opportunities to provide responses to the Board’s Notice of Motion
Parents/guardians of students enrolled in New Humble Centre School, as well as any other person, municipality or community organization, who may be significantly impacted by the school closure are welcome to submit their response and concerns via email to bgsd@blackgold.ca, Attention: Superintendent Romanchuk or in writing to: Black Gold School Division, Attention: New Humble Centre School Closure, 3rd Floor, 1101-5th Street, Nisku, Alberta, T9E 7N3.
All correspondence, submitted until April 1, 2020, will be collected and shared with the Board of Trustees of Black Gold School Division at Regular Board Meetings (open to the public) in raw form unless submissions contain offensive or inappropriate content.
January 29, 2020 – New Humble Centre School Council Meeting
At the request of the New Humble School Council, Associate Superintendent Dargis will attend the School Council’s January meeting in order to provide an overview of Black Gold School Division’s Board Policy 15 – School Closure and accept preliminary questions about the Notice of Motion and the overall process.
February 5, 2020 – Regular Board Meeting
As per Board Policy 7 (9) – Board Operations members of the public may attend an open Board meeting as an approved delegation and be given an opportunity to make a presentation or ask questions of the Board with respect to the subject of the delegation. A written request for a meeting must be received by the Superintendent seven (7) days in advance of the scheduled Board meeting. (By January 29th)
March 4, 2020 – Regular Board Meeting
As per Board Policy 7 (9) – Board Operations members of the public may attend an open Board meeting as an approved delegation and be given an opportunity to make a presentation or ask questions of the Board with respect to the subject of the delegation. A written request for a meeting must be received by the Superintendent seven (7) days in advance of the scheduled Board meeting. (By February 26th)
March 5 – March 10, 2020 – Information sharing updates with the New Humble Centre School Community
Parents/guardians of students enrolled in New Humble Centre School will be able to review the information surrounding the implications of the possible school closure on the nhcs.blackgold.ca or the blackgold.ca website. Parents/guardians will also be emailed via SchoolMessenger, when this information is updated.
March 11, 2020 – Public Conversation
Parents/guardians of students enrolled in New Humble Centre School, as well as any other person, municipality or community organization, who may be significantly impacted by the school closure are invited to attend this meeting at New Humble Centre School.
Members attending this public meeting can expect to be involved in conversations about the implications of the possible school closure and address questions related to attendance areas, transportation, programming, specialized student services, social environments, staffing, the future use or plan for the school building, and more.
April 8, 2020 – Regular Board Meeting
As per Board Policy 7 (9) – Board Operations members of the public may attend an open Board meeting as an approved delegation and be given an opportunity to make a presentation or ask questions of the Board with respect to the subject of the delegation. A written request for a meeting must be received by the Superintendent seven (7) days in advance of the scheduled Board meeting. (By April 1st)
April 22, 2020 – Open Board Meeting, School Closure Motion
The Board will make a motion, debate and vote on a resolution regarding the New Humble Centre School closure.