The Anglophone West School District Education Council approved changes to the Leo Hayes High School (LHHS) catchment area during its January 26 meeting.
Council initiated a review to address the school’s high functional capacity and growing student population.
DEC members voted to accept the recommendations as presented in a report submitted by Superintendent David McTimoney at the council’s public meeting on December 8.
The approved recommendations include:
- Leaving the applicable Nashwaak Valley catchment area as it is now, with students staying at Devon Middle School (DMS) and LHHS.
- Examining 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.
- Moving 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 dividing the community of Maugerville at Portobello Drive, resulting in students attending school in Fredericton.
- Moving 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 monitoring the out of catchment transfer requests associated with attendance at LHHS to prevent inadvertent contributions to increased enrolment; an accurate tracking system is required.
“This was an extensive community engagement process that included input from parents, families, district staff and consultants,” said Kimberley Douglass, chair, District Education Council, Anglophone West School District. “In approving this change, council is confident it accommodated many of the ideas and concerns brought forth through the process.”