“When you have a major capital investment in a community, you want to be able to go in and look after all of your educational facilities at one time so you don’t have to make that major capital investment again for another 50 years,” he said. For MUCC, this would result in a new expansion onto the collegiate to consolidate two to five schools as well as a modernization renovation for the school. Rempel said its likely Maude Burke, the newest school, would stay, while the other elementary schools would be consolidated into a new elementary school by the high school.
If closed, students from Arborfield School would take their classes in Carrot River. “Planning for the new K-12 school in Carrot River will include the future admission of Arborfield students,” said Don Rempel, director of education with the NESD. According to a motion prepared by Rempel and passed by the board at their regular meeting on Jan. 19, the school community council of Arborfield participated in the school sustainability process during the 2018-19 school year. The results showed Arborfield School enrolment is below the provincial threshold for viability, and is in need of demolition or repair and replacement. Rempel stated that it is still possible that it could be prevented from closing depending on consultations with the school community council and local municipalities when it conducts the school review process during the 2022-23 school year.