The following recommendations contained in the Final Staff Report on the Accomodation Review of the Owen Sound Area of schools were discussed and passed by Bluewater trustees at tonight's Special Committee of the Whole Board. The recommendations will be considered for approval next Tuesday, April 19th at the Board's regular meeting.

That Bluewater District School Board consider for approval:
1. That Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational lnstitute students be consolidated with West Hill Secondary School students on the site of the current West Hill Secondary School for the 2016-17 school year, effective September 2016; and
That the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational lnstitute (OSCVI) facility be renovated to accommodate K-8 programming commencing the 2017-18 school year.
2. That Bayview Public School and Sydenham Community School be closed effective June 30,2017; and
That the elementary programs from Bayview Public School and Sydenham Community School, including French lmmersion, be re-located to the renovated OSCVI facility, commencing September 2017 .
3. That Dufferin Elementary School be closed effective June 30, 2017; and
That the students at Dufferin Elementary School be re-located to Hillcrest Elementary School and Keppel-Sarawak Elementary School commencing September 2017 based on adjusted boundaries (as per Report AR 2015.16-02a Appendi* ll) and available school capacity for out of boundary requests (as per Administrative Procedure AP 6212-D).
4. That Derby Public School be closed effective June 30, 2016; and,
That the students at Derby Public School be re-located to Arran Tara Elementary School, Hillcrest Elementary School, and Hepworth Central Public School commencing September 2016 based on adjusted boundaries (as per Report AR 201 5.16-02a Appendix III) and available school capacity for out of boundary requests (as per Administrative Procedure AP 6212-D).
5. That a plan be presented to the Policy Standing Committee regarding the possible reduction of Owen Sound urban walk distances for secondary students.
6. That a business case be submitted to the Ministry of Education to seek funding for a secondary school to replace the Owen Sound secondary school (to be named) to meet the future enrolment expectations in the Owen Sound area.
7. That a business case be submitted to the Ministry of Education to seek funding for an elementary school to replace Hillcrest Elementary School to meet future enrolment expectations.

photo: Boardroom, Bluewater District School Board