Algoma District School Board decides to close two schools, 'It's the way of the times'

The Algoma District School Board has decided to close elementary schools in Blind River and Wawa.

The Algoma District School Board has approved plans to shutter two elementary schools and re-locate students to junior kindergarten to grade 12 facilities.

Blind River Public School and Sir James Dunn Public School (Wawa) are set to close, with the dates dependent on upgrades to a pair of secondary schools.

The public school board said both recommendations are based on public input.

In Blind River, ADSB said the plan is for students to move to W.C. Eaket.

The board will apply for provincial funding to turn the secondary school into a JK to 12 facility.

"It's the way of the times," said Sue Jensen, Blind River mayor.

"We just don't have the funds to keep two schools open right now, and the board is making decisions as such."

In Wawa, the plan is to move students to Michipicoten High School. ADSB is also applying for funding to retrofit the secondary school. The board said it wants to turn Michipicoten into a ‘desirable community hub’ and it will investigate potential community partnerships to share space at an upgraded school.

In both cases, if provincial funding applications are rejected, the board said students will remain at their current schools while staff examine future options.