A year from now there will be one less high school in North Bay.

The Near North District School Board trustees by an 8-1 vote last night decided to close Widdifield Secondary School.

Board chair Jay Aspin says it was a re-vote of a previous decision that ran into trouble due to a provincial ombudsman’s report.

Aspin says the board has lost $7 million due to lower enrolment the last two years and something had to be done.

“We’re forced to react. If we don’t offset that amount we swallow it. That means it affects programs. We’re forced to make this decision and we don’t like doing it, ” Aspin says.

Grade 13 student at Widdifield Janessa Trahan says although the board’s decision wasn’t surprising it’s still hard to take.

“Everybody’s morale will be down. Some students will wonder why does it matter that we go to Widdifield. We should go to another school because we’re closing'” she says.

Parent Rebecca Gauvreau was disappointed with the lack of public discussion by the trustees last night.

“A lot of them voted without saying a word about why they made the choice. That’s very discouraging. We’re the electorate and we voted them in. I expect them to work for me and all of our children. This matters,” Gauvreau says.

The board also passed a motion calling on staff to report on an implementation plan for two schools in North Bay.

(photos by station staff)

 

Filed under: Near North District School Board, Widdifield Secondary School