The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board is looking to close five local rural schools and turn Prince Edward Collegiate Institute into a kindergarten-to-Gr. 12 school. Photo by Megan Pounder, QNet News
By Megan Pounder [1]
BELLEVILLE – Municipal politicians are adding their voice to the chorus of opposition against school closures following a recent meeting with the premier and the education minister last week.
Prince Edward County Mayor Robert Quaiff and Councillor Bill Roberts spoke directly to Minister of Education Mitzie Hunter, and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference [2] about the issue of five local rural schools shuttering their doors.
Roberts lead the conversation, discussing the way decisions are made and asking the school board to slow down the rushed process, said Quaiff.
Roberts told Wynne he wanted more direct input to the decision-making body called the Accommodation Review Committee (ARC).
“I told the premier that the only access council and the municipality had to the process was to seek appointment by the school board on one of the ARC committees,” Roberts said.
But, he is concerned if the municipality gets a seat at the table, it could mean one less place for parents.
Roberts urged Wynne to encourage the school board to work with council, community development and planning staff, as well as utilizing all the tools the municipality has with regard to economic development and growth.
He went on to point out that the data the school board is using is from 2011-2012. He said the municipality will be getting census data which is up to date, plus data related to growth.
“She was pretty much shocked that the school board was not fully engaged with us at Shire Hall and she said she would personally look into that and get back to us,” Roberts said.
Roberts said Wynne told him she would follow up.
“So far there is no evidence of that occurring, and both the premier and the minister were surprised by that and indicated that they would be getting back to us at Shire Hall on that one,” Roberts said.
The board’s plans for county schools are:
- Close Queen Elizabeth School [3] in Picton and Pinecrest Memorial Elementary School [4] in Bloomfield and move students to Prince Edward Collegiate Institute [5] for September 2017. Close Sophiasburgh Central School and move students to PECI for September 2018. The board is looking to turn PECI into a kindergarten-to-Grade-12 school with these changes.
- Close C.M.L. Snider School [6] and Kente Public School [7] and seek funding from the ministry for a new kindergarten-to-Grade-8 school on the C.M.L. Snider property or in Wellington for September 2020.
No changes are proposed for Athol-South Marysburgh [8] or Massassaga Rednersville [9] schools.
The first review meeting [10] about these changes was held last week at PECI, with the next one scheduled for April 20.
Roberts said the school closures are not coming from the provincial government, but are local decisions, he said.
“Both the minister and the premier made it very clear that is not the case. They want this to be a local outcome that involves all the stakeholders in the community. The premier used the term ‘one size does not fit all’ – that there should be maximum flexibility around things like timelines and creativity.”
“They want this to be a local outcome that involves all the stakeholders in the community. The premier used the term ‘one size does not fit all’ – that there should be maximum flexibility around things like timelines and creativity,” he said.
Roberts said he suggested schools could be used for other purposes. The school board could use these rural schools as community hubs involving healthcare or daycare facilities, affordable housing, or intergenerational creative approaches for keeping the schools alive, he said.
Roberts said he feels Wynne is going to take some direct action.
“The premier said on at least one of the three items that she was going to look into it personally and get back to us, so we’re waiting for that,” Roberts said.
Quaiff said his next steps are to get in contact with the board of education and to relay the conversation that we had with the education minister and the premier.
Quaiff said he and Roberts also spoke with other ministers in the Liberal government as well as the NDP and PC caucuses.
“We think everybody needs to have the discussion and be made aware of what is happening in Ontario with the substantial closure of 600 schools.”