The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Despite our best efforts, Creighton has advised the Flin Flon School Division that they will begin Grade 10 programming in the Fall of 2004. They plan to add Grade 11 the following year and have a complete high school program by the Fall of 2006. Two formal meetings between the boards were held on December 4 and January 29. The vision presented by the Flin Flon School Division at these meetings was in favour of a regional approach to offering educational services to all children in the Flin Flon, Creighton, Denare Beach, Bakers Narrows, Schist Lake and surrounding areas. The specific suggestions presented were: 1. The formation of a Joint Regional High School Corporation. This would be similar to the proposed governance of the joint recreational facility between the City of Flin Flon and the Town of Creighton. Members of both boards would be selected to run the newly formed corporation that would be responsible for overseeing the local high schools. 2. The addition of a Creighton trustee to the Flin Flon Board. The Honourable Peter Bjornson, Minister of Education, Citizenship and Youth, has written a positive response to the Flin Flon School Division's request for full trustee representation. Mr. Bjornson indicated that his department would begin the necessary legislative changes during the Spring sittings of the Legislative Assembly. 3. The formation of a High School Standing Committee with representatives from both boards. This option would be less formal than the formation of a corporation, but would be similar in operation. The two boards would remain separate legal entities, but work in collaboration. Procedures such as meetings with high school administrators on a quarterly/monthly basis, high school administrators and senior administrators attending the Creighton School Board meetings to report/discuss issues and inclusion of the Creighton Community School administrators on the FFSD Divisional Administration Team. 4. The full amalgamation of the two boards. We believe we are better off making decision based on the fact that our communities are getting smaller. See 'Projected' P.# Con't from P.# Projected enrollment in ten years if enrollments continue at present day rates: Creighton (K-12) - grade size 20-30 students = 250 - 350 Flin Flon (K-12) - grade size 60-70 students = 750 - 850 Total number of students in our area 1,000-1,200. A decreased of 600-800 students (30-45%). Working as one division would have many benefits including: 1. Improved access to programs and services for students. 2. More efficient use of fiscal resources. 3. Creation of a new, collaborative and principle-centred organizational culture. 4. Adoption of the best educational practices based on research. 5. Enhanced professional growth opportunities and sharing expertise. 6. Specialization at the administrative level. 7. Stimulating collaborative community development using education as a catalyst. 8. An expanded divisional assessment base. 9. A stronger, untied voice for public education at the local level. We believe this proposal would allow access to the increased funding for Creighton and allow for significant decreased expenditures. In other words, maximizing our resources. There are no foreseeable reasons that would result in the closure of Creighton Community School. Creighton has a great facility, and even with only 1,000 students in our area, it would remain operational. The FFSD would like to see a process that includes parents and community members, from both sides of the border, join together in looking at solutions to the declining enrollments and maximizing the use of our facilities. The Board of Trustees of the Flin Flon School Division believe that there have been reasonable alternatives suggested and are disappointed that we were unable to find a way of working with the Creighton Board. We continue to believe that, in the best interest of all of our students, we should operate as one community. The Flin Flon School Board will be deciding our future direction in order to deal with the changed educational environment. We remain committed to excellence in education!
