Public school in Prescott to remain education centre
Posted By Deanna Clark, Staff Writer
Central Public School is no longer an elementary school, but it will continue to be a place for education.
It is listed as one of seven Upper Canada District School Board schools closing, six of which are likely to be sold.
The only school not being declared surplus by the board is Central, which is located on Jessup Street. It will remain in operation but not as an elementary school.
"Central remains on the board's inventory," said Grenville County Trustee Joan Hodge in reassuring residents the Prescott school is not closing its doors.
"It will remain a centre of education," said Hodge.
A new occupant of the facility is going to be the T.R. Leger School of Adult Alternate and Continuing Education School. The school is currently housed on the third floor of the Prescott Town Hall on Dibble Street, but it will be moving from there to Central next week. The programs being offered are the T.R. Leger credit program, Foundations and ABLE (Alternative Behavioral Environment). It will also offer day care.
Hodge noted the Ontario Early Years Centre and Best Start day care will continue to be housed at Central.
"It's still providing education to individuals who are part of our system who remain in our community," said Hodge.
Board chairman Greg Pietersma said Upper Canada has a process in place for divesting schools that are closing because of declining enrolment.
"We want people to know we have measures in place to ensure these buildings can continue to serve their communities in a productive fashion," said Pietersma.
Wednesday was the last day classes were held at Algonquin Public School, North Edwardsburgh Public in Shanly and Central.
Also closing are Elma Public School, Morewood Public School, Inkerman Public School and Martintown Public School. Pietersma noted people have already expressed interest in buying school buildings declared surplus under terms of the Building 2020 process.
Under Ministry of Education regulations, a closed school or other board facility must first be declared surplus through a motion by trustees. This action was completed at a board meeting June 17, meaning it is now in a position to either lease or sell the properties.
The process to be followed, however, states the board must offer the property to a number of public agencies before seeking a buyer from the private sector. The first choice is to see if another school board is interested. If that is not the case, the building is then offered for sale, in descending order, to the Ontario Realty Corporation, a local college or university, public works and government services.
Public agencies have 90 days, after notice is given, to declare interest in a school property. If there is interest, the board must accept the offer from the "highest priority" bidder, a press release from the board states.
If no interest has been shown by those listed in descending order, including another school board, and there are no government agencies interested in buying the property, the board can then dispose of the property at fair market value to a private or public agency through sale or lease.
If a private agency leases the property, it must be leased at fair market value.