The Bluewater District School Board (BWDSB) is looking at bringing in 11 portable classrooms for the next school year.
At a Business Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday night, trustees received a report detailing the need for new portables across the region as the board faces a growth in students.
While no decisions were made, the report says one portable is recommended for Beavercrest Community School, Dundalk and Proton Community School, and for Keppel-Sarawak Elementary School. Two were suggested for Georgian Bay Community School, and three for Kincardine District Senior School and for Macphail Memorial Elementary School.
These new portables would bring the total in the region to 58.
Board Communications Officer Jamie Pettit says, “this is something that is brought forward every year. Just as our business department looks at enrolment projections, they bring forward various reports to the business committee each month. A typical report each year is to project on the number of portables that are needed at various schools across the district.”
The new portables are climate-controlled with heating, ventilation and air conditioning, as well as have LED lighting and are supplied with standard classroom equipment like whiteboards, tack boards, bookshelves, coat racks, and a teacher’s wardrobe.
“There have been different plans and different communities that have been put forward to deal with that enrolment growth. Portables are often seen as a temporary accommodation while the board works on more permanent plans to accommodate students,” says Pettit.
A community group of parents and residents attended the meeting over concerns the portables recommended for Macphail would eliminate some green space.
“There is lots of discussions happening with portable placements. Discussions are part of the regular review that staff go through from year-to-year, but there will be a community information session on portables at Macphail. It’s planned for after the March break,” says Pettit.
While no official date has been set, he says details on the date and location for the session will be shared with parents.