Beginning at 6 p.m. tonight, a Simcoe County District School Board committee will receive a report detailing the results of the recently completed attendance area review (AAR) for Oro-Medonte's new elementary school.
According to the report, which was submitted by Corry Van Nispen, the board's superintendent of business and facility services, the new school, located at 739 Horseshoe Valley Rd. W., next to Horseshoe Valley Memorial Park on Line 4 North, will be six students over its 570-pupil capacity when it opens in September.
“When considering new attendance areas and changes to existing attendance areas, the intent is to balance school enrolments, create sustainable and stable school populations and school programs, efficiently use accommodation, and realize transportation efficiencies, while also preparing for future growth,” Van Nispen wrote in the report.
“Residential growth within Oro-Medonte has resulted in a significant increase in elementary enrolment at area schools," he added. “Similar to other areas of Simcoe County, substantial development in Oro-Medonte is expected to continue."
The AAR included East Oro Public School, Forest Hill Public School (regular program and French Immersion program), Guthrie Public School, the new Oro-Medonte elementary school, W.R. Best Memorial Public School, and the two Barrie schools currently holding students — West Bayfield Elementary School and Terry Fox Elementary School.
The associated French-immersion feeder schools are Harriett Todd Public School (French immersion grades 1-4) and Regent Park Public School (French immersion grades 5-8). The secondary feeder schools included in the AAR were Barrie North Collegiate Institute, Eastview Secondary School and Twin Lakes Secondary School.
According to the report, as of Oct. 31, 2024, Forest Hill had 612 pupils (203 over capacity), Guthrie had 534 (128 over capacity) and W.R. Best Memorial had 330 (108 over capacity).
Barrie North had 1,432 students (203 over capacity) and Eastview had 1,232 (five over capacity), while Twin Lakes has a capacity for 966 students and currently has 824.
By the time the new Oro-Medonte school opens next fall, board officials expect Forest Hill to have 410 pupils, Guthrie to have 372 and W.R. Best Memorial to have 264.
“While enrolment is better balanced, it is evident that schools will continue to be under- and over-utilized now and into the future,” Van Nispen wrote. “Staff believe, however, that the proposed enrolment balance is manageable and does allow for flexibility with regards to portable accommodation to accommodate future growth as required.”
The full report can be viewed here.
