Keeping local schools open and operating as community hubs are two key topics to be discussed at Dundas Work's community roundtable on education on Wednesday, Feb. 6.
Local public school board trustee Paul Tut and separate school board trustee Phil Homerski have both been invited to attend and speak.
Their comments will be followed by smaller group discussions about local education and school issues.
The education roundtable starts at 7 p.m. in the St. Paul’s United Church gymnasium at 29 Park St. W.
Dundas Works members Bob James and Jim Sweetman said the group evolved out of the original organization Parkside Works, which attempted to keep the local high school open. This time around, an expected Dundas public elementary accommodation review is currently on hold — with no meeting dates yet scheduled.
“We want to be ahead of the game,” James said.
Both suggested the extra time means the community can be better prepared.
“We need to be thinking about this, so we can meaningfully contribute and participate in discussions about our community,” Sweetman said.
Dundas’s four public elementary schools Sir William Osler, Central Public, Dundana and Yorkview will be part of a future accommodation review process.
Dundana, Central and especially Yorkview are smaller than the board’s optimum school size with enrolment figures below those capacities. All three also have below average facility condition ratings.
“If it depends only on this, we’re vulnerable,” Sweetman said of the enrolment and condition statistics.
He said the question is how the schools can be integrated into their communities so that the numbers aren’t the only issue to consider when the time comes.
“We want to be positive, and for something,” Sweetman said. “We want to engage people now.”
James said co-operation between the two different school boards is another topic of possible discussion. And that could start with this meeting, with two new local trustees just elected in the fall.
“We’re providing the trustees and the citizens a chance to hear each other … to interact,” Sweetman said.
Dundas has already been the subject of elementary and secondary public school accommodation reviews resulting in a total of four school closures between 2004 and 2014.
Keeping local schools open and operating as community hubs are two key topics to be discussed at Dundas Work's community roundtable on education on Wednesday, Feb. 6.
Local public school board trustee Paul Tut and separate school board trustee Phil Homerski have both been invited to attend and speak.
Their comments will be followed by smaller group discussions about local education and school issues.
The education roundtable starts at 7 p.m. in the St. Paul’s United Church gymnasium at 29 Park St. W.
Dundas Works members Bob James and Jim Sweetman said the group evolved out of the original organization Parkside Works, which attempted to keep the local high school open. This time around, an expected Dundas public elementary accommodation review is currently on hold — with no meeting dates yet scheduled.
“We want to be ahead of the game,” James said.
Both suggested the extra time means the community can be better prepared.
“We need to be thinking about this, so we can meaningfully contribute and participate in discussions about our community,” Sweetman said.
Dundas’s four public elementary schools Sir William Osler, Central Public, Dundana and Yorkview will be part of a future accommodation review process.
Dundana, Central and especially Yorkview are smaller than the board’s optimum school size with enrolment figures below those capacities. All three also have below average facility condition ratings.
“If it depends only on this, we’re vulnerable,” Sweetman said of the enrolment and condition statistics.
He said the question is how the schools can be integrated into their communities so that the numbers aren’t the only issue to consider when the time comes.
“We want to be positive, and for something,” Sweetman said. “We want to engage people now.”
James said co-operation between the two different school boards is another topic of possible discussion. And that could start with this meeting, with two new local trustees just elected in the fall.
“We’re providing the trustees and the citizens a chance to hear each other … to interact,” Sweetman said.
Dundas has already been the subject of elementary and secondary public school accommodation reviews resulting in a total of four school closures between 2004 and 2014.
Keeping local schools open and operating as community hubs are two key topics to be discussed at Dundas Work's community roundtable on education on Wednesday, Feb. 6.
Local public school board trustee Paul Tut and separate school board trustee Phil Homerski have both been invited to attend and speak.
Their comments will be followed by smaller group discussions about local education and school issues.
The education roundtable starts at 7 p.m. in the St. Paul’s United Church gymnasium at 29 Park St. W.
Dundas Works members Bob James and Jim Sweetman said the group evolved out of the original organization Parkside Works, which attempted to keep the local high school open. This time around, an expected Dundas public elementary accommodation review is currently on hold — with no meeting dates yet scheduled.
“We want to be ahead of the game,” James said.
Both suggested the extra time means the community can be better prepared.
“We need to be thinking about this, so we can meaningfully contribute and participate in discussions about our community,” Sweetman said.
Dundas’s four public elementary schools Sir William Osler, Central Public, Dundana and Yorkview will be part of a future accommodation review process.
Dundana, Central and especially Yorkview are smaller than the board’s optimum school size with enrolment figures below those capacities. All three also have below average facility condition ratings.
“If it depends only on this, we’re vulnerable,” Sweetman said of the enrolment and condition statistics.
He said the question is how the schools can be integrated into their communities so that the numbers aren’t the only issue to consider when the time comes.
“We want to be positive, and for something,” Sweetman said. “We want to engage people now.”
James said co-operation between the two different school boards is another topic of possible discussion. And that could start with this meeting, with two new local trustees just elected in the fall.
“We’re providing the trustees and the citizens a chance to hear each other … to interact,” Sweetman said.
Dundas has already been the subject of elementary and secondary public school accommodation reviews resulting in a total of four school closures between 2004 and 2014.