Leo Hayes High School overcrowding plan goes to public meetings

Details on how overcrowding at Leo Hayes High School in Fredericton is going to be addressed will be available at public information meetings in three communities affected by the plan.

The district education council for Anglophone West School District has opted to change the boundaries of the area from which the school draws its students.

The changes will result in some students being sent to different high schools instead of busing them to Leo Hayes.

• Leo Hayes High School considers overcrowding options

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• Leo Hayes High School catchment area to change in 2017

"We've approved an implementation plan where we will have public information meetings in each of the three communities that will be affected by the changes," said education council chair Kimberley Douglass.

The idea for public meetings was presented by district superintendent David McTimoney.

"He would have a chance to present to the public on what the ideas are and hear from them and then we would go forward on looking at the plan and how it would roll out," said Douglass.

The public will be able to give their thoughts and ideas at these meetings as well, she said.

"There is certainly a possibility that the public may have ideas or things to say that might affect how it will eventually roll out," said Douglass. 

The first meetings will take place at Nashwaak Valley Elementary School in Durham Bridge on Oct. 13, the second at Keswick Valley Memorial School on Nov. 9, and the final meeting will be at Leo Hayes High School on Nov. 28. 

Implementation of plan

The council doesn't have all the specifics yet, but they are looking at a program that would allow current Leo Hayes students stay at the school. The incoming students would be the ones sent to other schools.

Information Morning - Fredericton5:55Kimberley Douglass - DEC Meeting

The Anglophone West District Education Council met in Woodstock last night, and that plan to reduce the student population at Leo Hayes High School was back on the agenda."We haven't approved anything yet but that would be the idea," said Douglass. 

The school was designed for a student population of between 1,390 to 1,500. Leo Hayes principal Brad Sturgeon said back in May that there were more than 1,700 students at the school.

The change will affect high school students from Durham Bridge, Keswick Valley and parts of Maugerville and Lower St. Mary's.

Instead of attending Leo Hayes, those students will go to schools in Oromocto, Stanley, Nackawic, or on the south side of Fredericton. The changes would be implemented in September of 2017.