The Holy Family School Board, along with administration from St. Dominic and St. Michael schools, met with parents on Wednesday evening to give an update on the Phase 1 project and the plan for Phase 2 at St. Michael School, with the future intent to amalgamate the two schools into one location.

The board addressed the concerns regarding Phase 1 from parents at a meeting that was held on May 30, 2006. "The concerns and issues raised are part of our transition plan," stated Shelley Rowein, Director of Education for the Holy Family School Division. "The transition plan will continue to address further concerns and issues, and solve them in relation to what best fits the needs of our students."

Phase 1 of the transition plan includes reroofing and sprinkler system of the existing building, replacement of existing heating system with new rooftop HVAC units, demolition of the existing change rooms, repairing the computer lab window wall, a new addition to the east for classrooms, and the office area will be moved to allow access to the addition.

The main point of discussion centered around grade reconfiguration, as recent block funding from the Government of Saskatchewan has made it possible to add a further four rooms to the Phase 1 project, enabling the board to consider moving both Grade 5 and 6 classrooms over to the St. Michael structure for the 2007-08 school year.

As well, at the start of the 2007-08 school year, both schools will be also regarded as under the Kindergarten to Grade 9 model, with one principal and two vice principals. Darren Larsen will be the principal of the schools, with Denis Tremblay as vice principal of St. Michael and Lynn Colquhoun as vice principal of St. Dominic.

To further build on that model, the terminology of junior high school will be dropped, and it will just be referred to as St. Michael School. There will also be joint school meetings for teaching staff and joint community meetings for parents of students as the schools move forward as one institution.

"I think it is the best option to move both the Grade 5 and Grade 6 classrooms to St. Michael for the next school year," commented Tremblay. "As the students in Grade 7 will be our current Grade 6's, there will be 60 per cent of St. Dominic students coming over as one group, which will make the transition easier on them."

"The programs for the Grade 5 and 6 students will be continued at St. Michael's," stated Larsen. "They might look a little different as we continue to improve these programs, but I do not see any programs being left out."

"There is always a fear of the unknown when it comes to change," commented Bruno Tuchscherer, Chair of the Holy Family board. "If we go into this project with the right attitude, we will have a better school system that is more cost efficient."

Other concerns that were brought up from the previous parents meeting included the issue of bus parking problems that might occur over at the St. Michael location. Tuchscherer stated that "an option is to follow a model by the Sacred Heart school and move back the sidewalk for a third lane for buses," but that the Holy Family board will have to work this out with the City of Weyburn.

Addressing concerns to the entrances and hallway space for the students moving over to St. Michael School, it was stated that the entrances are built according to building codes. As well, the hallway which is intended for elementary classrooms will be free of lockers, giving the hallways a lot more open space for the children.

Regarding the concern of the playground equipment that is located at St. Dominic school, the board has no plans to move it over as for the 2007-08 school year it still will be used by students remaining at that location. The board will be working with its School Community Council (SCC) on options for playground equipment for the students located at St. Michael.

After addressing these concerns from Phase 1, the board opened the floor to further concerns and issues from parents.

Mike Moser brought up a concern from hearing that the public school board, Cornerstone, will be sending their Grade 9 students to the Weyburn Comprehensive School. "If this happens, will our Grade 9 students be sent over to the Comp as well?"

Tuchscherer stated that as a participant in the Comprehensive Governance Board that there were no current plans to move over the public school Grade 9's, and stated "currently Holy Family has no plans to move St. Michael Grade 9's over to the Comp."

Donna Rooney inquired if students would be losing hands-on teacher time by moving from smaller classrooms of 17 to 18, to larger classrooms of 25 to 28.

Rowein stated that there are benefits to large classrooms and smaller classrooms, but no matter the size of the classroom, "we would still be looking at the needs of the children."

Michael Mainil inquired as a rural parent how children from Queen Elizabeth will be integrated into the St. Michael school.

Tremblay stated, "We usually send a letter to rural parents inviting them to St. Michael school," and that this year that letter could be sent to the prospective Grade 5 and Grade 6 students, as well as the prospective Grade 7 students.

Rowein spoke about how there is an orientation day held for Grade 6 students who are coming into the school as Grade 7's. This year, the board will look into efforts of making a transitional day for any potential families who might want to consider sending their children to St. Michael's in the 2007-08 school year.

Laurie Bendtsen raised the question what would happen to the leadership roles that would be vacated at St. Dominic school with the move of these two grades.

Larsen stated that he feels that the Grade 4 students will be able to take on some of those leadership roles, and others such as the safety patrol could be handled with adult mentorship.

At the end of the night it was felt that Phase 1 of the St. Michael project was solid in the mind of the community.

The grade configuration for Phase 1, which will be implemented September 2007, will take place at the Holy Family School Board monthly meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 14. "Regardless of the grade configuration, Holy Family is dedicated to meeting the needs of its students," commented Rowein.

The board also listened to concerns regarding Phase 2 of the project, which has no set date to be implemented, as the funding from the government might not be released until 2010.

Concerns regarding Phase 2 included the size and allotment of gym classes and after school programs for the gymnasium, as currently the one gymnasium fits within the provincial code and there is no funding for remodeling.

Both Larsen and Tremblay felt that there would be plenty of allotment time in the gym for the incoming Grade 5 and 6 students, as well as the higher grades at the school for the upcoming school year.

The school board has also made space on their plans to the south side of the building for a new gym in their plans for Phase 2. It was stated that there would also be funding provided if the size of the student population required an addition to the gym.

There is also some possibilities of remodeling for play areas for the elementary students.

The addition of a Chapel to the school grounds has been added to the plans for Phase 2, as a Chapel service for students is considered important to the Holy Family board as St. Michael is located farther away from St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church, where mass services for St. Dominic students are currently held.

Other plans for Phase 2 including adding classrooms to complete the east addition so all the students can transition into the one school, allowing space to shuffle during renovation, adding north classrooms, a stage area and plans for a division office area that could be added to the south.

The only other concerns regarding Phase 2 were how cluttered the entrance ways might get with boots and coats in the elementary section, and how the school was going to ensure that crowding of the entrance places would not occur.

This crowding concern was also an issue in case of emergency, when students have to vacate the school quickly, and parents wanted to see more information on fire exits that would be available for their children to use in emergencies.

"We have plenty of time to plan for Phase 2," commented Tuchscherer. "So the board will be taking the concerns we heard tonight, and address them as we get closer to Phase 2."