Senior students at Brooke Central Public School won’t be moving to LCCVI.

Parents voiced concern about the preteens moving to the Petrolia high school while the roof of the Alvinston school is repaired during a public meeting Monday. Now the board has decided to keep the students in the newer part of the school.

The Lambton-Kent District School Board met with parents at the Brooke-Alvinston-Inwood Community Centre Monday to explain how engineers preparing for a summer roof project found the roof might collapse under the weight of more than 12 inches of snow. Board also laid out a plan for where the students will be going

The board planned to bus kindergarten to Grade 5 students to Lambton Centennial where there are empty classrooms. Students in French Immersion from K-6 would go to East Lambton Elementary and all other Grade 7 and 8 students would be using the now vacant third floor of LCCVI until the repairs were complete.

The plans didn’t sit well with many of the parents. They were particularly concerned about sending the Grade 7 and 8 students to LCCVI. “These are the last years of elementary school and you’re taking it from them,” said one parent after Howitt suggested since they would be going to LCCVI after elementary school, it would give them a better understanding of the experience.

“It’s not an experience want for our kids,” she added.

Other parents were concerned by separating the older and younger students, siblings would not be able to help their younger brothers and sisters get on and off the bus or stay with them after school.

Since the engineer’s report was only on the older part of the school building, several parents suggested the Grade 6, 7, & 8s remain at Brooke Central and use the newer part of the building.

Wednesday morning, the board released a new relocation plan.

All of the Grade 7 & 8 students will be staying at Brooke Central in the newer part of the building. The Grade 6 students in the English Language program will also be there.

Kindergarten to Grade 6 French Immersion students will transition to East Lambton Elementary School.

Students in Kindergarten to Grade 5 English Program will transition to Lambton Centennial Public School.

Wellington Builders has already been hired to complete the structural work. They will get a close look at the building once everything is moved out. Howitt says the availability of steel may play into how long the construction takes but he hopes it can be complete in early 2023.

Right now, the board is working on moving the entire school, packing up everything from books, to desks, to computers. Howitt said board staff are filling 500 boxes now and another 1,500 delivered Tuesday.

Howitt says there will be a weekly update for students so they know exactly what is going on and how the construction is progressing.

Activities planned for the entire school, such as the annual Christmas dinner provided by the Alvinston Optimists and a trip to a local tree farm, will go ahead.