By Walter Byj
September 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The wait for the Public School Board meeting was longer than the meeting itself.
The scheduled 7:00 pm start time was delayed until after 8:00 pm and was finished by 9:00 pm. The early in camera session carried on longer than usual allowing the trustees to play catch up for the preceding two months. Let’s hope they weren’t discussing their summer vacations.
David Euale, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board announced his retirement several months ago – is now on a daily retainer until there is a new Director.
No doubt some of the discussion centered on the current status of a hiring of new Director of Education; David Euale announced his retirement earlier this year and is being retained on a daily contract.
There was one new staff face at the meeting; former Hayden High School principal, Jacqueline Newton, was formally introduced as the new Superintendent of Education replacing Yaw Obeng who had resigned earlier this year for a position in Burlington Vermont.
The 2015 school year in Halton has two new schools in Halton (Oakville, Milton) and although cosmetically there may be some additional work, classes will begin on Tuesday.
Opened less than two years ago – the Alton Village Public school is now adding a second floor. No one appears to have fully understood the kind of population growth the school was going to go through.
In Burlington, preliminary engineering work was approved on a second floor addition at Alton Village Public School. Although ministry approval has not yet been received, it was essential that this school, which is bursting at the seams, have the additional classrooms for September 2106.
Another school facing an expanding population is Frank J. Hayden Secondary School. Currently there are a number of portables in the parking lot waiting to be moved to their specified locations; in the meantime some students will attend classes in the community centre, library and cafeteria.
Hayden High, Burlington’s newest high school built as part of a complex that includes a Recreation Centre and a public library with a skate park right across the street – it is now going to sere portables in the rear yards – more space needed,
One wonders how a high school opened number OF years ago needs more space – did someone misread the demographics of the community?
Andrea Grebenc, (Burlington) advised her colleagues that she would be presenting a motion related to car traffic and safety concerns near the schools with suggestions as to how to promote more physical activity coming to and at school.
Traffic on Tim Dobbie + Highway 5 is insane; culprit is school board does not bus Hayden students that live below Highway 5.
And who was the brain trust who decided to have this school built on Highway 5, probably the busiest street in Burlington.