The Rural Voice, 1998-11, Page 21Some parents worry that the school population will be split
between three or four other facilities. When a six-year-old
was asked what he thought of going to another school, he
said that was alright. However, when asked what he
thought of only a few of his classmates going with him, he
said, "That is a bad idea." y
There are also children who do not cope well with
change or need the special attention afforded them in
smaller schools.
or others, a small school grants them the opportunity
F
to excel as seen at Turnbcrry Central Public School.
The ranks of Ontario Scholars graduating from thc
local high school has had a disproportionate number who
began their education at Turnberry, said one school
supporter.
People have moved to a rural community because they
want to be here, added LaFontaine. "They don't want their
children bussed to a mega school, and 400 students is a
mega school. That may work in the city, but it doesn't
work here. We don't want mega schools. Bigger is not
always better,"
Intertwined with the issue of bigger schools, several
school representatives have expressed the concerns of
parents about boards creating kindergarten -to -OAC
buildings or even sending Grade 7 and 8 students into high
schools.
Parents don't want their young children in the high
schools, said Gerry Wallis, Perth South councillor and
supporter of a South Perth Centennial Public School.
A factor in the possible closure of Colborne Public
School, bussing has parents concerned.
"When we asked the board why our school was on the
list to be closed, we were told it was because the children
were already bussed. If they were bussed to Colborne, they
could be bussed somewhere else," said LaFontaine.
Bussing is totally different in rural areas, said HCFA's
Boot. "If the board talks of closing high schools, they
better look at the size of the parking lots. Parents want the
children home to do chores or to get to part-time jobs. A
half an hour (longer bus ride) makes a
difference. Our children need these
jobs as much as any. We continue to
see increased college and university
tuitions."
That issue is echoed by OFA's
Kelly. "Adding another half to three-
quarters of an hour to an hour-long
bus ride isn't acceptable."
The length of bus rides is important
for both elementary and secondary
students, agreed AMDSB Chair
Armstrong. If younger children are
tired when they get to school how can
they learn properly? She also noted it
would be more difficult for senior
students to participate in after-school activities or acquire
employment.
As for the length of bus rides if several schools were
closed or converted, Armstrong said those figures would
not be known until studies were done. The board has a
guideline to prevent children from riding the bus longer
than one hour, each way. Approximately 100 of 20,000
Ken Kelly:
Adding
time to the
length of
already
long bus
rides is not
acceptable
Some schools have a strong community involvement. These
parents at Walton Public School work to improve their
school, ironically, one of those scheduled to be closed.
now have longer rides.
The UGDSB has yet to determine bussing changes said
Trustee Brimblecombe, but in some cases the ride may
actually be shorter as boundaries arc redefined.
Another prominent issue when deciding on buildings for
closure is the state of repair or need for future maintenance.
Some parents have pledged financial support.
"I am a grandparent and friend of Turnbcrry Central
Public School (near Wingham)," said Ken Mothers, one of
almost three dozen working on committees to kccp thc
school opcn.
If the closure of Turnberry comes down to money for
upkeep, the parents are willing to take it out of their own
pockets, he said. They arc stepping up to say they will raise
funds to replace roofs or buy new heating systems.
Turnberry has. the highest ratio of
computers to studcnts in thc board, said
Mothers. "If we can raise money for that
we can replace windows. If that's all it
takes to keep our school opcn, we will do
it."
The people in Perth South, home of
South Perth Centennial, arc taking a
different approach to defend thcir school
as Wallis questions the legality of the
move.
These communities built the schools in
the 1960s. Then centralization of the
board was a benefit. The community
entrusted the board to look after the
schools, to equalize the system across the
county. But they are still community schools, he said.
"They were built with our moncy."
Wallis wants a legal opinion on who owns thc school
and who controls the purse strings.
For Colborne's LaFontaine, the biggest problem with
closing schools is the long-term effect and loss of
community.
NOVEMBER 1998 17