Trustees with the Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB) generated a very robust conversation around the potential closure of Sarnia Collegiate Institute & Technical School (SCITS) Tuesday evening.
A final staff report, favouring the initial recommendation, also recommends the consolidation of St. Clair Secondary School (SCSS) and SCITS temporarily at the SCITS site effective September 2016, and permanently at the SCSS site effective September 2017.
It's recommended the SCITS site close as of July 1, 2017.
With a large focus on demographics, finance, and the overall ARC process to date, the report also describes the rationale behind the decision, including enhanced program changes to benefit students.
Board Chair Jane Bryce says she believes it's a fair report.
"I've been on the board for 22 years, experienced a lot of opportunities that we've had to close buildings, and I've never seen a report as drilled down into all the details as this report has," she says.
Director of Education Jim Costello encourages the public to read the full 42-page report found on their website.
"We acknowledge that both schools are great schools with fine students and fine staff in both. It's our opinion that the two can be consolidated together into a school of approximately 1,000. We can have a better timetable with more offerings for students," he says. "As good as both schools are with strong legacies and strong history, I think that if you put them together we're going to balance the city."
The report says 2014/15 operating costs for SCITS was $1.2-million, almost $232,000 more than SCSS.
Accessibility upgrades would cost roughly $10.6-million more to complete at SCITS compared to St. Clair, structural repairs $1.26-million more, and $5-million more to complete full asbestos removal.
It's expected the PSI designation at SCITS will be transferred to grant community access to SCSS facilities.
It's also recommended boundaries be changed for the school consolidation and for an Ad Hoc Committee to be established to put forward a name for the consolidated school.
The LKDSB passed motions Tuesday asking for three further staff reports in regards to hydro costs, timing on asbestos removal, and concerns regarding heritage designation.
Public delegations will take place at the board's April 26 meeting in Sarnia.
New information will be included in a staff report to be presented to the board for its final decision 7pm May 10 at Alexander Mackenzie Secondary School.