GRONLID — The North East School Division board passed a motion to sell the Gronlid Central School facility after it closes in July 2022.
The motion stated that the board will first approach the Rural Municipality of Willow Creek and ask if the RM is interested in purchasing the school and related land.
If the RM is not interested, the school division will subdivide the land since there is a parcel owned by the school division that includes the community rink and a portion of the school building. The cost to subdivide is estimated to be approximately $5,000.
In September, the board of education passed a motion putting the school up for a viability review, initiating a review process for the potential closure or grade discontinuance due to the low student numbers. By Sept. 15, the school only had 18 students enrolled.
Throughout the process the School Community Council (SCC) has the ability to consent to a closure, ending the review process and beginning a transition plan for the students for the 2022-23 school year, which they initiated early in the process.
Don Rempel, NESD’s director of education, said most of the students are expected to be transferred to Melfort with Melfort & Unit Comprehensive Collegiate and Reynolds Central School. Others may go to Tisdale and Nipawin.
Before the transition plan is finalized it will require board approval.
“We had a very positive meeting with the SCC. They’re going to look after the archiving, [and] the artifacts in the school. They’re looking at a plan for relocating the playground structure, somewhere that can benefit,” Rempel said. “Perhaps Wapiti or Fairy Glen where more people will use it.”
