ARBORFIELD — The North East School Division (NESD) board passed a motion to initiate a school review process to consider the closure of Arborfield School.
The review process is planned to be done no later than Oct. 15, 2022 with the earliest date for possible closure being July 1, 2023.
This comes after the division received funding for their 2020-21 major capital project request to receive a new expansion onto the gymnasium at Carrot River School to consolidate two or three schools.
If closed, students from Arborfield School would take their classes in Carrot River.
“Planning for the new K-12 school in Carrot River will include the future admission of Arborfield students,” said Don Rempel, director of education with the NESD.
According to a motion prepared by Rempel and passed by the board at their regular meeting on Jan. 19, the school community council of Arborfield participated in the school sustainability process during the 2018-19 school year.
The results showed Arborfield School enrolment is below the provincial threshold for viability, and is in need of demolition or repair and replacement.
Rempel stated that it is still possible that it could be prevented from closing depending on consultations with the school community council and local municipalities when it conducts the school review process during the 2022-23 school year.
