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Community Feedback About Changes for Michael Strembitsky School

Mon, 23 Nov, 2015

Edmonton Public Schools is holding a public meeting with parents in the Summerside area on November 24 to talk about changes to the attendance area for Michael Strembitsky School.  The school is full due to continued growth in the area and the District would like to relieve some of this enrolment pressure for the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year.

The District has come up with four feasible solutions and wants to get feedback from the community about which one of these ideas would work best for students and their education. 

“In just two years, the number of children between the ages of newborn to 4 has grown from 550 kids to 880 – an extra 330 children in just two years,” said Christopher Wright, the District’s Acting Managing Director of Planning. “Students and families are feeling the impact of the continued growth and how it’s impacting class sizes and learning spaces. We need to address this issue until various new schools open in the area. Our ultimate goal is to bring students back to their community school.”

Yesterday, the District sent letters to students’ families outlining four possible options that include moving some students to Satoo, Dan Knott or Ellerslie schools, as well as redefining attendance areas. Parents can provide feedback about their preferred options at the meeting next week or online.

Whichever option is chosen, it would have to be in place for two years, giving the District flexibility to deal with both construction delays and settling of enrolment once other area schools open.  The Superintendent will make a decision late this year about which option is best for students, while taking into consideration the community’s feedback. The decision will be shared with students’ families and the community in January.

“We want to give students a high-quality learning experience in a high-quality learning environment,” said Wright. “We put a lot of time and effort looking at various options by working with census data, the City, developers, student transportation and the community. 
 
“We are confident these are the four most feasible options for students. I want to reassure families that no decision will be made until we first hear feedback from families. What they think truly matters to us.”

UPDATE: Learn about the Superintendent's decision to make changes to Michael Strembitsky School's attendance area.