There may soon be big changes to the school landscape in Chatham.
The St. Clair Catholic District School Board is looking at a plan that proposes to close six elementary schools in 2019.
Director of Education Dan Parr blames declining enrolment.
Parr tells CTV Windsor “we have 500 excess spaces in Chatham and that’s a significant drain on our facility’s budget.”
The seven schools that are part of a pupil accommodation review include;
- Georges P. Vanier
- St. Agnes
- St. Joseph
- St. Ursula
- St. Vincent
- Monsignor Uyen
- Our Lady of Fatima
Option A would be to close six schools and combine Monsignor Uyen with Our Lady of Fatima. The board would also build two new schools that would each house 500 students.
The other two options being considered by a special committee would see fewer schools closed, and more facilities improved.
Every school except Our Lady of Fatima was built 50 to 60 years ago. According to the Catholic board, it would cost more than $30 million to maintain all of them.
But Parr says Option A makes the most economic sense with a cost of just over $29-million.
Chatham Councillor Michael Bondy says he sees the benefit of having new schools for future students, but he is concerned about empty buildings in the heart of the city.
Bondy adds "there's generations and generations that have gone to these schools so it is going to be a big big change, a lot of tradition will be sent to the history books."
Bondy tells CTV News a lot of thoughtful consideration is needed before a final decision is made in March.
Two public meetings have already been scheduled, and the first will take place November 9th.
