Ministry Dismisses Request for Review of Yarker School Closure

Published on: 2017/09/08 - in News

Yarker Family School

The Limestone District School Board issued the following release earlier this week:

The Ministry of Education has dismissed a request for an Administrative Review of the Yarker Family School Pupil Accommodation Review.

At a Special Meeting of the Limestone District School Board of Trustees June 5, 2017, Trustees voted to close Yarker Family School in September 2018 and relocate its students to Odessa Public School. Furthermore, the Board voted to declare Yarker school surplus to the Board in the fall of 2018.

The vote followed a Pupil Accommodation Review Process regarding Yarker Family School and Odessa Public School that began in October 2016 and included consultation with the Pupil Accommodation Review Committee, the public and the broader school community over eight months. The intent of the review was to ensure appropriate program opportunities for students while balancing the ongoing challenges of declining enrolment and changes to funding that no longer support under-enrolled schools.

The Board received notice of the application for an Administrative Review regarding Yarker Family School (located at 4315 County Rd 1E) from Rural Schools Matter, the Yarker, Colebrook and District Community Association and Eric DePoe in early July citing improper process. The Board responded to the application, and the Ministry of Education released its decision Sept. 1, 2017.

The Ministry determined that the Board followed process and procedure during the Pupil Accommodation Review, and dismissed the request for an Administrative Review. Read the Ministry Decision Letter – Yarker FS PAR – Sept 1, 2017.

The Board will continue to work with the Yarker Family School community to ensure the smooth transition of students to Odessa Public School for the 2018-2019 school year.


Release source: Limestone District School Board | Photo: Google.com