HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-11-20, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2008.The first of four publicAccommodation ReviewCommittee (ARC) meetings
about five schools in this
immediate area was held at
Hullett Central Public School
on Thursday, Nov. 13. The
schools in this
accommodation review are
Blyth Public, East Wawanosh,
Hullett Central, Wingham
Public and Turnberry Central
schools.
According to board policy
regarding accommodation
review, the Avon Maitland
District School Board “is
committed to providing a
comprehensive range of
educational opportunities
equitably across a broad and
diverse geographical area
through sustainable
community schools.”
They are also aware that
changes in any school’s status
have an impact beyond the
school itself. Any changes
therefore must include public
consultation.
When slated for public
review, a school community
fears the worst scenario – the
closing of ‘their’ school. Thatwas the fear in the back of theminds of every communityperson from each of the fiveschools on hand for thismeeting.
However, an
accommodation review may
result in changes to the grades
offered in a school, closures
and/or solutions to
overcrowded, underutilized or
inadequate facilities.
AMDSB superintendent,
Mike Ash, chaired the
meeting. Accommodation
administrator, Phil McCotter
was present and fielded some
comments regarding financial
issues. Shelley Kaastra and
Colleen Schenk were the
board trustees on hand to also
offer comments about the
review.
Prior to this first public
meeting, principals, in
consultation with staff and
members of the School
Advisory Council, completed
a generic School Valuation
Framework. This form
contained both hard data,
such as does your school have
a separate music room, and
soft data such as what outside
groups make use of the
school.A quick review of eachschool’s forms, clarificationof some entries and chancesto the individual reports weredealt with at the beginning of
the meeting.
These completed forms are
public information and can be
found on the board’s website.
Questions that were raised
by the delegates from each
school and audience members
brought to light facts for
consideration and public
sharing.
One aspect considered in a
review is the percentage of
capacity, present and future,
of a school. Capacity levels
for schools in this review are
Blyth, 84.1 per cent; East
Wawanosh, 66.5 per cent;
Hullett, 64.5 per cent;
Turnberry, 52.7 per cent and
Wingham 82.7 per cent. The
costs of maintaining a school
at less than full capacity is an
issue.
In simple terms, picture a
classroom designed for 20
pupils with only 12 pupils.
The school receives funding
for 12 pupils but the costs of
maintaining that classroom
are for 20. Board personnel
made it clear that noadditional funding will beforthcoming from theprovince.Busing costs are anotherissue that may determine how
these schools may be
organized.
The quality of the
education that can be offered
to pupils in schools at less
than capacity, that are forced
to have split classes as the
norm, is brought into
question.
The three rural school
buildings in this review are
the same age, having been
built in the mid-1960s when
that round of amalgamations
was done. The other two
schools, urban in nature, have
been in existence for much
longer and had
additions/renovations about
that time. Any scenario
involving changes to the
education in this area must
take the costs of maintaining
or renovating the physical
structures as well.
The board maintains they
are attempting to make the
best economic use of the
funds they received.
Demographics of the area will
figure into the final decision.
Schenk stated, “If we do not
reduce our costs immediately,
by 2010 we will be out of
funding to address the fact
that buildings require
maintenance.”
All schools in this area
have both a full-timeprincipal and secretary soclosing one school cuts twosignificant costs, it wasexplained.A question regarding the
impact that closing a school
has on a community brought
into focus the emotional
aspect rather than the
financial aspects of these
reviews. Schenk stated,
“Closing a school is the
hardest thing a trustee has to
do. Trustees will not make the
decision lightly. One school
in this group will close.”
Schenk added further that
300 schools in the province
are under review; the situation
is not unique in Huron
County.
Shrinking property values
was expressed as a real
concern for all five areas.
Schenk asked that everyone
to give a great deal of
consideration to how they
want education in this area to
look not just next year but
five, 10 or more years down
the road. This suggestion was
reiterated more than once that
evening.
Some early ideas of
scenarios, such as a middle
school for Grades 7 and 8
were talked about.
Before the next public
meeting on Dec. 11 at Blyth
Public School the school
delegates are to discuss and
bring forward possible
scenarios for how these
schools might be reorganized.One school’s proximity toanother may figure in thedecision when the length ofany one pupil’s bus ride isconsidered.
Closing a school will have
the most impact on the
children of that school.
An audience member noted
that the influx of new pupils
to a school is also difficult for
that student body. Board reps
stated that every effort will be
made to create a smooth and
satisfying transition for
everyone. The safety and
comfort of all affected
students will be of paramount
concern.
Given that school
accommodations happen
every five years also has a
bearing on how to reorganize
the area. No one wishes a
pupil to lose his/her school
more than once.
No decision for this area
has been made by the board to
date, the ARC representative
said. Input from delegates and
the public are welcomed to
assist them in making the best
decision for schools and
pupils in the concerned area
while keeping costs to a
manageable level while
continuing to offer quality
education to children.
Questions or concerns by
the public can be taken to
school delegates, a school’s
principal or the board’s
website.
Continued from page 4
For example, when Wescast
was considering expansion,
our municipalities merged our
efforts to successfully attract
the new business
development. I regret that the
co-operative approach to
regional economic
development, an approach
with proven results, was
abandoned after such success.
As you know, North Huron
councillor McClinchey has
proposed to you that we again
adopt a more consultative and
co-operative approach to
economic development. I fully
support that notion and I
would encourage you to seek
the approval from your
council to begin that process
without delay.”
It is worth noting that the
entire text of that letter was
printed in The Wingham
Advance Times.
As a follow-up to that letter,
on Sept. 23, North Huron
council sent a delegation to a
Morris-Turnberry council
meeting. The goal was to put
into motion a comprehensive
plan whereby Morris-
Turnberry and North Huron
could commence a
collaborative approach to
regional economic
development along the Hwy.
86 corridor. The North Huron
proposal identified five key
areas that could be focused
upon, including development
of existing land resources
along the highway, jointly, for
the general betterment of our
collective rate-payers.
For the sake of clarity,
North Huron council
continues to support any
economic development
proposal that is able to satisfy
standard planning
requirements such as a market
study. The embargo that had
been put into place with
respect to a grocery store
prohibition on the Willis
property in Morris-Turnberry
was imposed as a result of a
mediated settlement to a
dispute between Loblaw
Property Ltd. (appellant),
National Grocers Ltd.
(appellant), the Twp. of
Morris-Turnberry, William
and Ethel Willis, the County
of Huron and Mr. Lynn Hoy.
You will note that neither
the former Town of Wingham
nor the Municipality of North
Huron appears on the list of
parties prompting the Aug. 15,
2001 decision. Implications
to the contrary are false.
In closing, we would like to
thank the paper for printing
this lengthy letter. Economic
development is one of the
most important files on the
municipal agenda and we will
continue to fiercely defend our
efforts, to aggressively
promote further partnerships,
and to work for the betterment
of the people and businesses
of North Huron.
We stand ready to provide
detailed clarification to any
matter contained herein
should that be required by any
individual with an interest in
the matter.
Sincerely,
Councillor Archie
MacGowan
Councillor Greg
McClinchey
North Huron councillors
tell their side of story
By Brenda RadfordSpecial to The CitizenARC attendees told a school will close