Recommendations made following superintendent’s review of LHHS catchment area

Article Posted: Thursday, December 08, 2016

The Anglophone West School District Education Council has received a report from Superintendent David McTimoney following his review of the Leo Hayes High School (LHHS) catchment area. 

Leo Hayes High School is at a high functional capacity and the District Education Council has passed motions to take steps to address the overcrowding issue. 
“The attention and engagement of parents and families throughout the process is appreciated,” said McTimoney. “The input received at the three public meetings and through correspondence has been extremely valuable. Each point made and other information was carefully considered in developing the six recommendations that will now be taken under advisement by the District Education Council.” 
Recommendations in the report include:
·         Leave the applicable Nashwaak Valley catchment area as it is at the present time, with students staying at Devon Middle School (DMS) and LHHS.
·         Examine the area of Zionville Road in greater depth and in collaboration with the families to determine a possible move to Stanley Consolidated School in the future.
·         Move the high school catchment area for Keswick Valley Memorial School (KVMS) students currently at LHHS to Fredericton High School (FHS).  Students in current Grades 8 to 12 would be grandfathered until graduation from LHHS.
·         Not divide the community of Maugerville at Portobello Drive, resulting in students attending school in Fredericton.
·         Move the high school catchment area between Burton Bridge and Princess Margaret Bridge (currently at LHHS) to FHS. Middle and elementary students would continue to attend DMS and Barker’s Point Elementary School as opposed to Bliss Carman Middle School and schools in the Town of Oromocto.  Students in current Grades 8 to 12 would be grandfathered until graduation from LHHS.
·         Closely monitor the out of catchment transfer requests associated with attendance at LHHS to prevent inadvertent contributions to increased enrolment; an accurate tracking system is required.
Also contained in the report are considerations for the future should the crowding issue continue at LHHS. 
The DEC is scheduled to make a decision on the report at its public meeting on January 26, 2017.