Group to plan for schools’ future

Ken Johnston

Concerns over the future of Rainy River’s schools were paramount at last Monday’s Rainy River High School parent council meeting.
His Worship, Mayor Glen Armstrong, spoke to the council on behalf of several concerned citizens as well as town council. His primary concern was that the $1 million being spent on a new heating and air conditioning system could be better spent in regards to the long term life of the facility.
Armstrong even went as far as suggesting that a new K-12 school be built in Rainy River. However, by meeting’s end he changed his position agreeing that it makes more sense to work with the parent council, the board of ed. and citizens to develop a solid plan for the future of local school facilities.
Rainy River High School Principal Bob McGreevy said that a new school would be very costly and likely about half the size of the current facilities. The current enrollment numbers would dictate the school being much smaller than the two existing buildings.
RRHS is 37,000 square feet. McGreevy said the going rate to build a new school today is about $200/sq. ft. If a new one was built to that size the price tag would be about $7.4 million.
As for closing Riverview and moving all the students, grades K-12, into RRHS, McGreevy said, “That is very unlikely.” He said that there is the possibility that grades 7 and 8 could move back to the high school to free up space in Riverview for new government programs like day care, Early Years, Toy Library and possibly the Public Library.
Mayor Armstrong agreed with the consensus at the meeting that a working committee including the School Bd. Superintendent of Plant, Senior School Adminst., community members, school council and town council members be struck to look at and develop solid long term plans for the community.

decline over the past several years, Mayor Armstrong said that the board of ed. has already stated that no new students will be transported from the Stratton area to school in Fort Frances. He feels that combined with extra efforts to promote the school to outlying area students will help boost the enrollment. He also said that town council is actively working to attract some sort of industry that will create jobs and hence bring more people to town and again boost enrollment figures. “Something will happen on my watch as Mayor,” concluded Armstrong.
Principal McGreevy said it was good to have Armstrong as well as ten other concerned parents at the meeting. “I hope they and others continue to come out to the meetings. We value their input.” The next meeting of the RRHS parent council is April 4th, 7 p.m. at RRHS and it is open to the public.