Potential Closure of Andrew School

Potential Closure of Andrew School

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

Elk Island Public Schools, (EIPS) board of trustees will be holding a special meeting on April 6.

The purpose of the meeting is for trustees to consider a recommendation to direct administration to prepare an information report regarding the possible closure of Andrew School and provide it to trustees before the next board meeting which is slated for April 20.

A letter signed by EIPS Superintendent Mark Liguori was emailed to parents on April 3 advising them about a report going forward to the board of trustees on April 6. “The report is regarding a recommendation to consider the potential closure of Andrew School.”

In the letter Liguori explained that, “At that meeting, the Board may direct EIPS to produce an in-depth, detailed report for information about the elementary program at Andrew School for presentation at the regular board meeting on April 20. The report would include detailed information about enrolment, programming, finances, infrastructure, demographics, human resources, transportation and more.

There are two significant challenges EIPS is facing at Andrew School. First, the poor condition of the fire suppression and roofing systems means a needed investment in excess of $3 million to ensure the building remains safe and operational. Second, student enrolment continues to decline significantly, with a 30 percent drop between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years. The small number of students enrolled for the upcoming year directly impacts funding for the school, which in turn means fewer staff members and a detrimental effect on student programming.

If the report for information goes forward on April 20, EIPS trustees will discuss the data contained therein. Then, it will bring forward a motion to consider the possible closure of Andrew School. The motion will come down to a vote. If the motion is carried, the Division will notify all Andrew School families about the decision and next steps—including a public engagement meeting. If the motion is defeated, the matter will go no further.

I want to assure you the Board has not made any decisions about Andrew School. A report for information would simply help them decide if it’s an avenue they need to explore further. That said, given the facility’s conditions and the enrolment decline for the upcoming school year, EIPS administration has both a responsibility to its students and a fiduciary duty to bring these issues forward to the Board of Trustees.”

According to information contained in the April 6 meeting agenda package, “As of Sept. 29, 2022, it has 62 Kindergarten to Grade 6 students. Currently, the total projected student population for the 2023-24 school year is 44 students.”

EIPS Director of Communications Services Laura McNabb said potential closure of Andrew School has not come before the board of trustees or debated by them previously. Details in the report for information won’t go before the board of trustees until April 20 if the original motion is passed. “A public meeting will take place the following week should the matter move forward.”