TLDSB to conduct two boundary reviews

DAN CEARNS, The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: The Trillium Lakelands District School Board is going to be looking at potential boundary changes for a couple of their school areas.

At a Committee of the Whole meeting, on Tuesday, February 14th, trustees approved a recommendation to authorize their staff to complete boundary reviews for Parkview Public School in Lindsay and for two schools in close proximity to each other: Dr. George Hall Public School and Mariposa Public School.

In a report, Superintendent Tim Ellis explained, the Parkview boundary review had been started because of new developments in the area.

“The City of Kawartha Lakes is experiencing considerable growth on the Highway 35 corridor, between Colborne Street and Thunderbridge Road. With the proposed developments [which] have received approval at the municipal level, it is expected there will be upwards of two thousand units constructed in that area. Currently, these development areas fall within the Parkview Public School catchment area. This school is currently at capacity, and there are limited options to place additional portable classrooms on the site. Capital requests to the Ministry for an addition would not be forthcoming until the board utilizes its available capacity in Lindsay,” the report read.

Superintendent Ellis told trustees why the board is looking at boundary changes for the other two schools.

“The boundary is best described as a doughnut, with the middle of the doughnut being Dr. George Hall and the outside of the doughnut being Mariposa. We just wanted to engage the community in discussions [on] whether it would make sense to continue to have boundaries like that, or if we need to investigate something along the lines of a North-South border.”

Following the review, staff are expected to bring a report back to the board, with recommendations for trustees to consider, at the June board meeting.