New boundaries for three Catholic high schools proposed

Trustees for Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board will consider some boundary changes that will affect Villanova, St. Anne’s and Cardinal Carter high schools at Tuesday’s final meeting for the current school year.

The changes will go into effect for the fall.

“We’re trying to provide more options for students who wish to stay within the Catholic system at the high school level,” said Stephen Fields, communications coordinator for the Catholic board.

Under the current boundaries, some students were forced to travel greater distances when another Catholic or public high school was geographically closer.

The new boundaries between Villanova and Cardinal Carter will be adjusted to reflect the current parameters of Ward 1 for the Town of Essex.

That change will see students west of Arner Townline and southwest of Highway 3 become part of the Villanova catchment area.

However, existing and graduating students this year from Holy Names and St. Mary French Immersion elementary schools will be grandfathered.

They will be allowed the choice of attending either school, with the board providing transportation.

The changes involving the boundaries for Cardinal Carter and St. Anne high schools will see the most easterly edge of the existing boundary to include both sides of Gracey Side Road from Lake St. Clair on the north end to County Road 8 on the south.

The existing shared area between the two schools, in which students have their choice of schools to attend, will be expanded.

The area will extend from Gracey Side Road east to Kent Road 1 and north to Lake St. Clair. County Road 8 will form the southern boundary of the new shared zone.

Students living within this area can attend St. Anne or Cardinal Carter, with board transportation provided.