ADSBThe latest public school closure will happen at the end of this school year. William Merrifield Public School will shut its doors, six months after it was put under accomodation review status by the Algoma District School Board. The school buildling was one of the oldest the board had and it would have cost millions of dollars to retrofit it. Board Chair Jennifer Sarlo says that was the primary reason why the school will close in June, and suggests this may not be the last move the board makes to right-size its system…

When asked about feedback after previous consolidations in the Sault and Algoma, Sarlo answered that the response has been mainly positive. She mentioned the Grade 7 and 8 program at CASS, describing it as a ‘thriving and unbelivable’ program with the students wonderfully there after the emotion that followed the decision to put that program at CASS. The closure of William Merrifield is the latest in a number of closures and consolidations as part of a 10 year Capital Plan reflecting declining enrolment at the Algoma District School Board. Sarlo defended those past decisions and the work to move those students affected…

One example of the ease of transition is through ‘community events’ like orientations, that welcome affected students to the school community before they attend their first class there. Sarlo says it’s too early to determine what — if any — further ‘right sizing’ is planned for next year. In the final weeks leading to Tuesday night’s decision, there was very little comment or opposition to the planned closure despite a 60-day feedback period and previous closures bringing out emotion from some parents of affected students. Sarlo says she was not surprised by that and credits effective communication for the lack of feedback in this case…

Board staff will work with affected students and their families over the next several weeks to help them cope with any transition.