Drake's old high school should close by June 30, 2017, TDSB staff recommend
Emmett Shane | CBC News | Posted: October 14, 2016 2:07 AM | Last Updated: November 1, 2016
Vaughan Road Academy's student population has shrunk over the past few years
Staff with the Toronto District School Board told a meeting of about 200 people at Vaughan Road Academy Thursday evening that they are recommending the closure of the school by June 30 of next year.
The discussions are part of what the Ministry of Education calls a "pupil accommodation review," which takes place when schools are slated for possible closure and students may have to move to nearby schools.
Vaughan Road Academy, located in the Oakwood Avenue and the Eglinton Avenue West area, can accommodate 1,179 students, but was down to an estimated 220 at the beginning of this academic year.
It also happens to have been attended by superstar rapper Drake.
"Somebody should hit up Drake and tell him to come save it," student Rachel Seymour, 15. told CBC News Wednesday.
Seymour is one of a group of 10 girls rallying for the internationally famous musician to get Vaughan Road Academy off the TDSB's list of underused schools.
In addition to the closure of the school, TDSB staff are recommending that its "current attendance area" be distributed to nearby schools by Sept. 1, 2017.
That means students now going to Vaughan Road Academy, as well as those who would have begun attending the school next year, would begin attending nearby schools next September.
There will an opportunity for public to comment. The TDSB is scheduling another meeting on Nov. 16.
The board will make the final decision in December.