Update Email From Diane Firman, School Board Trustee

Information from School Board Trustee Diane Firman

John Brassard
Councillor Ward 7
City of Barrie
705-739-4217
www.johnbrassard.com
From: John Brassard Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2007 10:54 AMTo: 'Firman, Diane'Subject: RE: Bear Creek Secondary School field concerns

Diane,

Hope you had a good holiday.

I can appreciate the increase in demand and the over-utilization at Bear Creek because I hear about the impacts of it often from those residents who live in proximity to the school.

City of Barrie planning staff have been told that an additional amendment to the site plan is forthcoming that will include a practice field in an area identified as a significant woodlot. I am sure that you can appreciate the concern among residents and my concern about the possibility of cutting trees down for this purpose. I’ll await further information from you on this.

Regards,

John Brassard
Councillor Ward 7
City of Barrie
705-739-4217
www.johnbrassard.com
From: Firman, Diane [mailto:dfirman@scdsb.on.ca] Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2007 7:30 PMTo: John BrassardSubject: Bear Creek Secondary School field concerns

John,
Thank you for bringing your concerns and those of residents to my attention. My apologies for not getting back to you sooner as I have been away on holidays.
Bear Creek school was built in 2000 with a capacity of 1215 students. It is currently running at a 160% utilization rate with over 1900 students. Since opening of the school, demands for program facilities has increased. Constructing a field at Bear Creek to meet the school’s growing programming, extra-curricular and community use needs is an option being considered.
Staff are in the assessment stage looking at a variety of alternatives relating to the Bear Creek grounds. Part of the current staff assessment has included having an arborist review and catalogue tree growth throughout the property. Building an additional field to meet this growing school's programming, extra-curricular and community use needs is one option being considered at this time but no decision has been made and any proposed site changes would require review by the City of Barrie.
The Simcoe County District School Board has a special responsibility to take a leadership role in environmental awareness and action based on environmental principles. It is the policy of the SCDSB that environmental principles be included in all board programs, policies and procedures. Environmental Policy 2325 can be accessed at http://www.scdsb.on.ca/articles/policies/2325R_EnvironmentalPolicy.pdf
Again, thank you for sharing your concerns. I will discuss them with available staff this week and get back to you with my findings. As stated earlier, no decisions have been made. School staff, council and community input toward decision making is both invited and encouraged.
Regards,
Diane Firman
Trustee
Simcoe County District School Board
Barrie Wards 7, 8, 9, 10
Tel: (705) 725-4679
Email: dfirman@scdsb.on.ca