Trustees from both local school boards have had a visit with Kincardine Council.
Bluewater District School Board Vice Chair and Kincardine Trustee Jan Johnstone and Bruce-Grey Catholic Board Trustee Sam Finnie updated Council on what is happening with their boards and how it affects Kincardine.
Johnstone highlights the recent elimination of the Bluewater Board’s deficit, the recent satisfaction survey results, and reviews designed to improve board communication and transparency.
She is especially impressed by the new gymnasium addition that will be built at the Davidson Centre, saying the municipality should work together on future buildings that can serve both educational and recreational purposes.
Mayor Larry Kraemer says while the municipality has moved ahead recently improve the facility on its own — he says some sort of partnership with school boards is possible in the future.
Johnstone notes the aging Kincardine District Secondary School building might be old–but the Ministry of Education has not yet decided it needs to be replaced.
She notes declining enrolment leads to less provincial funding, and that will be a challenge for the future.
Catholic Board Trustee Sam Finnie says enrolment is actually up this year in the board, with levels staying consistent in Kincardine and Port Elgin.
Finnie says programs currently offered in the community will continue to be offered, and notes that the Catholic Board, along with the Bluewater Board, are both awaiting an announcement in March about where all-day kindergarten will be offered.