Central and Arthur Meighen Schools Closing

The Arthur Meighen and Central Public Schools are to be replaced by a new school to be built in 2009. The Ontario government will provide $4.8 million towards the cost of building the new facility.

The Avon-Maitland District School Board's application for the provincial grant was made in the spring. In the application, the Board suggested that a new facility on the high school grounds would be the most cost-effective, it would likely be two storeys, and students would use high school's small gym for physical education.

In 2005 elementary enrollment at St Marys Central was 193, Arthur Meighen 335 and South Perth Centennial 250. 318 students attended Holy Name of Mary Separate School. By 2015 enrolment is projected to decline at St. Marys Central by 4%, Arthur Meighen by 13%, South Perth by 39%.

South Perth Centennial will remain open. The board projects that over the next ten years $1.9 million will need to be spent on the South Perth building and $417,569 at the site.