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By Dave Bowden, National Post
It’s official: the proposed Africentric school will open in September, now that the minimum number of applicants has been enrolled, according to school board trustee James Pasternak.
Mr. Pasternak, whose ward will include the new alternative school, confirmed this morning that “nearly 45” students from an original list of about 70 who expressed interest have now enrolled. The school required at least 40 students to register by Friday before it was given the green light.
Mr. Pasternak will meet with Toronto District School Board staff this afternoon to discuss enrolment and leadership, referring to the upcoming selection of a principal for the new school.
“Enrolment in schools is a moving target,” he said. “It's always changing [and] we're hopeful that we can grow ... and convert more of the expressions of interest [into firm enrolments].”
The much-debated school will include students from kindergarten to Grade 5 when it opens within vacant space at Sheppard Public School this fall. The school, which aims to curb the dropout rate among black students by integrating elements of African culture into the curriculum, has sparked much debate within the school board and the public since the idea was originally floated in 2007. Trustee Josh Matlow continued speaking out against it as recently as January, when he proposed instituting board-wide African studies programs as an alternative to the school.
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