Tag: school closing

October News

Sherwood Forest School Site Update

The Thames Valley District School Board is moving ahead with the provincially mandated 90 day period of asking other public bodies (the other school boards, the city, the University, etc) if they are interested in buying the site. The city has told us it will not be buying the site for parkland or community use, and cannot (under the Municipal Act) buy it for a private use, be it a school, church or business. If none of the public bodies step up, the TVDSB begins a sealed bid process. Whether or not the TVDSB will vary the process is up to the Trustees.

If the site is sold to a private interest, any change in use of the site from a publicly funded school will require a rezoning. As this is a public process, residents within a 120 m of the site will be notified by mail, a sign will be posted on the site and the Ratepayer’s Association notified. It is only then will we have some idea of what will happen to the site.

Sarnia Road Widening

The city’s preliminary 20 year transportation plan now calls for the widening of Sarnia from Wonderland to Sleightholme to start in 2016. Keep in mind, this is preliminary and not yet part of the city’s capital budget. More information will be forthcoming once the city budget is tabled later in the year.

Medway Seniors Series for October

WHEN: Wednesday, October 9th from 2 to 3 p.m.
WHERE: Sherwood Library
WHAT: “Lets Talk About Books”

Please join us for this interesting and informative session. This event is free with no registration required. Bring a friend!
For more information, call 519-473-9965.
REMINDERS

Catch Basins Clear?

With fall, comes the fall of leaves. They can block catch basins and in storm, water can back up into the streets or garages. If you have a catch basin near your home, please try to keep it clear.

Keep the Medway Valley Heritage Forest Special?

This time of year, the Valley really shows off. When you are out enjoying the display of colour, please remember to stay on the trails. Dogs and people off trail can cause disturbances to the plants and animals that make their homes in the Valley. Please also remember that bike riding is only permitted in the loop between the Longbow and Doncaster Gate entrances.

Update on Sherwood Forest School Site

As has been reported in the community newsletters and the community web page, since the May AGM, a committee of residents has been trying to figure out a way for the school to remain a school.

At its meeting of September 10th, the School Board will declare the Sherwood Forest Public School surplus. This triggers a process under Provincial regulations. The Board must offer a surplus school site to a number of public bodies (including the city), before entering into a sealed bid process for disposal. We are determining if the city would step in and buy the property (as they did with the Normal School in Old South), and then sell to a private school that would maintain the access the community has enjoyed. It is not an easy process because the School Board has to sell it for at least fair market value (an appraised value by a professional appraiser), and should the city buy it, the city can’t sell it for less than fair market value. The city also has policies and procedures for disposing of property.

In short, there will be a report by city staff to a committee of city council in public session on August 20th reporting if it is possible under city policies to buy the land, then sell it under a request for proposal, for a community use. Then the committee will determine what it will recommend to the full City Council for its meeting on Aug 27th.

City staff already reported on the use of local improvement charges. The report is available here.

May update

ORCHARD PARK PUBLIC SCHOOL
The Thames Valley Board has voted to retain the name. You’ll recall that the Board has a process to review the name when one school closes in an area. Thanks to those of you who participated in the process.

SHERWOOD FOREST PUBLIC SCHOOL – CLOSING CEREMONY
On June 19th at 2:15 pm, there will be a closing ceremony for this school. It should be about an hour. An ad will appear in the Free Press and you are encouraged to let others know. Notice will also be posted on the school’s web site. RSVPs are appreciated so that enough chairs will be available. Call the school office at 452-8540 to let them know if you will be attending.

UPDATE ON NEW USE FOR SCHOOL SITE
The school site group is still waiting for an update from City Hall and school board staff as to how a possible change in ownership might work. Stay tuned as more information is expected in June.

BUCKTHORN BUSTING
Buckthorn is a non-native, invasive species that is spreading in London’s Environmentally Sensitive Areas. Come out to the Longbow entrance to the Medway Valley to bust some buckthorn on June 18th at 5 pm. The rain date is June 19th at the same time. The city web site http://www.london.ca will have a weather update on the 18th.

Report from the Sherwood Forest School Site Group

Report of Sherwood Forest School Site Group, January 2013

Update of work to date

None of the public bodies are willing to buy the property. We have approached the city, UWO (via the Centre for Activity in Aging), and the French Public Board without success. There also was no funding support from the Province or the city for a Sustainable Energy Centre.

The Thames Valley Board has told us that it will follow the process outlined in Regulation 444/98 for disposing of the Sherwood Forest P.S. property. This means that the private schools interested in the property will either have to bid for the site when it becomes available or convince the city or one of the public bodies to buy it for them.

Continue reading “Report from the Sherwood Forest School Site Group” →

Update on Sherwood Forest School Site

The Board is still planning to close the school at the end of this school year (June 2013), even without the planned renovations at Orchard Park P.S. being complete. 

Continue reading “Update on Sherwood Forest School Site” →