Students of South Plympton and Wyoming public schools will consolidate at the Wyoming site in 2017.
Trustees with the Lambton Kent District School Board unanimously approved staff's recommendation at its meeting Tuesday evening in Sarnia. Trustees Randy Campbell and Jack Fletcher were absent.
The consolidation amalgamates the board's last split grade elementary schools, which will become a merged Kindergarten to Grade 8 when students transition in September of 2017.
Director of Education Jim Costello says the initial staff recommendation of consolidating in 2016 was pushed back a year due to parent's concerns with construction.
"That allows us to work on Wyoming when it's only 70% full," he says. "So that allows a portion of the school to be kept empty so it can be worked on or we can position the students in other parts of the school."
Parents also expressed concerns over transportation during the Accommodation Review Process.
The school board is currently working with the Town of Plympton Wyoming, who will have the ultimate say, on possibly adding two crossing guards in the area.
Costello says Kindergarten to Grade 3 students living within 1.6 km walking distance to Wyoming Public School will also have the opportunity to apply for priority bus seating.
"To have a 4-year-old or a 5-year-old having to cross Hwy. 21 to get to a school may not be in the best interest of that student for their safety. CLASS has agreed to give them a priority consideration."
This consolidation is the Lambton Kent District School Board's second in an eight phase plan.
It's expected one or two more consolidations could be brought to the board next year, with initial reports tweaked once enrollment numbers are taken into consideration.
Trustees recently approved the amalgamation of SCITS and St. Clair Secondary School students at the St. Clair site during its meeting May 10th.
