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Vol. 19, No. 1, Wednesday, November 22, 2023 www.LamontLeader.com
Andrew Rural Academy Charter School becoming a reality BY JANA SEMENIUK Members of the newly formed Andrew Rural Academy Charter School Society (ARACSS) were relieved when the village council voted unanimously Nov. 15, to purchase the local school building. The society formed hoping to create a charter school option for local families after Elk Island Public Schools closed the k-6 Andrew School due to declining enrollment in June. ARACSS members attended the Andrew special council meeting on Nov. 15 and spoke to the importance of maintaining a school in the village. Vice board chair Kylie Rude told the crowd of approximately 30, that the village will suffer without the school building which contains several other village amenities. “Without the school, I think you all know that the community is in jeopardy. The viability of a community (will suffer if) they no longer (have) a library, a bowling alley (or) a fitness centre,” she said. Rude said in a later interview, that at least 80 students’ families have expressed interest in attending the charter school, which is still in the planning stage. She said the society will have a lot of
Andrew planning to buy school
Members of the Andrew Rural Academy Charter School Society listen while the Village of Andrew council votes to purchase the local school building. L-R: ARACSS board chair Jason Tkachuk, vice board chair Kylie Rude, members Anna-Lee Laderoute and Heidi Andruchow. Photo: Jana Semeniuk work to do to get the school up and running now that the village council has made the decision to purchase the building. “We were hoping this would be the outcome. That's why we came here to show our support. To us it was a no brainer (and) a bit of a relief. Now the hard work begins,” she said. Rude said the six-member society was formed when the school closed
BY JANA SEMENIUK At least 30 people, attending the Village of Andrew special council meeting Nov. 15, applauded as their local council voted unanimously to purchase the old Andrew school building for $1. The school was closed by Elk Island Public School division last June due to declining enrolments and an exorbitant repair bill of more than $3 million for the roof and sprinkler system.
last June, but were held up moving forward until the building was purchased. She said they filed an application with the province to make their society official this summer and are still waiting for a response. “That's the mechanism we need to begin soliciting donations and approaching the county and applying for grants,” she said. “Once we get that done, we're going to be looking at
Options for the building included demolition with the Village absorbing one third of the cost, or the Village could purchase the facility for $1. Although the school was closed, the building still houses the village offices in addition to a public library, a two-lane bowling alley and weight room that would need to be relocated if the building were demolished. Ken Glover, human resource consultant
some area businesses to sponsor the program, some private donations (and) get the government granting ball rolling.” ARACSS board chair Jason Tkachuk said the school will be looking at STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) based programming for the new charter school. “Science gives us that beautiful opening into agriculture (and) agronomy,” he said. “It gives us that blend to be able to work with the surrounding (communities) to offer a very practical education.” Andrew councillor Merwin Haight, who is also a member of the ARACSS, said that according to official records, there are plenty of students to populate the new charter school. “I've looked at our demographics (and Andrew) accounted for 16 percent of the population for Lamont County,” he said. “We have, according to the federal government, 238 children between the ages of zero and 14 in our area. I believe we have enough student population here to make it viable.” Rude added that the school will begin as a kindergarten to grade six and looking to possibly expand to junior high and high school grades in the future.
hired by the Village to help investigate the purchase, gave a report during the special meeting. He said discussions between the village and EIPS have been ongoing while the village explored other options including purchasing the old Coop building or the old senior’s center. He said they have also had their own contractors in the school building to conduct inspections which was previously not allowed by EIPS. Continued on Page 15