Hello, and thank you for your input!
 
This survey is regarding the proposed move of the KPDSB (Keewatin-Patricia District School Board) office into the second floor of Keewatin Public School.
 
Background Information:
Changes made in the 2019 provincial budget included significant cuts to the education sector. The KPDSB (our school board) opted to avoid cutting educator jobs by reducing costs elsewhere.
 
One of the proposed cost-cutting solutions is the amalgamation of the Dryden KPDSB office and the Kenora KPDSB office into a single Kenora location. This plan also includes moving the current Kenora office out of the Seven Generations building to eliminate high rental and operation costs.
 
The proposed new location for the KPDSB office is the second floor of Keewatin Public School. Details are limited at this point. It is understood that the move will include some long-overdue upgrades to our school's infrastructure. Not much else is known at this point.

Several of our families have raised concerns over the logistics and impact on our children/students. Some concerns shared at the last Parent Council meeting were:

» That there is not enough space to accommodate the offices and our children will be moved into portables.

» That our enrolment is on the rise and once KPDSB moves in they will not give the space back, and/or that the space will have been renovated to office needs and not suitable for classrooms anymore.

» That our class sizes will be increased to fit into smaller available spaces, or using odd spaces for classrooms, ie. the “family room” next to the kitchen downstairs.

» The disruption of school life during construction for a project that does not directly benefit our students.

» The loss of green space to accommodate more parking for office workers.

» Potential loss of green space (i.e. playground field or forest school space) if portables become a reality.

» Safety concerns with the coming and going of construction crews initially, and then office workers and anyone accessing services at the offices.

» The loss of the “feel” of our small community school.
 
Our concerned families also wanted to point out that our space already feels limited:

» There are plans to incorporate a daycare into the first floor of our school.

» We currently have our library on the stage in the gym; we have no space for the library, and now no stage.
 
Parent council wants to hear from you regarding the proposed move of the KPDSB into KPS!