It has been brought to our attention, from the "Overenrolment Subcommittee Members" at the Norseman Junior Middle School, that there will be a meeting at Norseman School, regarding overcrowding at the school. See below the information provided us...
In 2013
Norseman School will reach 140% capacity
Not everyone has a child
in Norseman but the condition and appearance of the school
highly impacts every homeowner in the neighbourhood. Real estate values are closely tied to the
reputation of the local school.
Facts:
·
Norseman JMS has been over 100% capacity
since 2001, currently 120%.
·
External portables were added to contain the
extra classrooms. This was
intended to be a temporary solution; even more were added a few years later.
·
Our area is rapidly growing with housing
development and the entry of young families. The enrollment projections at Norseman show no signs of
stabilizing.
·
A school council sub-committee has been formed to
explore a long-term solution that will benefit the entire community.
Our concerns:
1.
Since 2001, Norseman has been the most
overcrowded school in Ward 3 with no sign of decrease, will the solution be
long-term or are immediate budget concerns a higher priority?
2.
Full Day Kindergarten numbers do not
present a temporary challenge at Norseman. Where will you build new classrooms
when the kindergarteners advance to primary and middle school classes?
3.
What are the benefits and confines of
building an addition to the current building? Is it a long-term solution?
4.
What are the benefits and drawbacks of
reconfiguring the current building, with no addition, are there any square
footage requirements per student?
5.
How will higher enrollment affect the
shared areas; the gym (and its use as a lunch room), drama/dance, art, music
rooms, computer lab? Will all students have less access to these areas?
6.
Castlebar School, at 70 Chartwell Rd,
was a local junior school from 1968 to 1981. There is an opportunity to utilize the building, as a
satellite-campus. Is there a bias
against this option?
7.
Could the Chartwell school be a middle
school satellite for Norseman? A
previous Norseman area junior school at 60 Berl Ave. was converted into Karen
Kain School for the Arts, a middle school.
8.
Or is there potential to re-establish
70 Chartwell Rd. as a junior school?
Does the building better suit kindergarten through grade three?
9.
Does utilizing 70 Chartwell Rd. now
allow the board to move back into one building if ever needed? Does
reconstructing the current building allow for any such recourse in the future?
10. What is the deadline to make a decision
and begin work? Will we be informed in time to voice further concern?
Trustee Pamela Gough and Superintendant Jane Phillips-Long will attend a meeting to address concerns
Tuesday May, 22nd 6:30pm
In the school library
All are welcome