"We Won't Let The Board
Pit One School Against The Other”
Current Process Makes Balanced Outcome unlikely
By Craig Hermanson,
LockeStreet.com Coordinator &
Earl Kitchener Parent Representative
06 May 2003: The Open House at Earl Kitchener
on May 1st was an opportune time to begin mobilizing our community
with an Open Letter.
Anyone in Hamilton living near an existing public elementary school
needs to be concerned about their school's future -- unless there
is already a student population of 550, 700 or more. It's important
not to look at this as an Earl Kitchener, Central, Strathchona or
Ryerson issue. The current scenario presented to the City West Area
Accommodation Review could negatively affect residents throughout
the lower City. Some more immediately than others.
As EK/Ryerson parent Ruth Rashid said at the April 29th Area Accommodation
Review meeting, "We don't want one school pitted against another."
Unfortunately, that's exactly what the process is likely to do.
EK's School Council Chair Dean Alex rightly points out, "The
fact that the HWDSB presented only a single scenario, and wishes
the committee members to derive alternate situations does not bode
well for a balanced outcome." The process naturally pits communities
against each other.
Divide and they will conquer--as I'm sure is the plan.
Presenting One Scenario is Divisive
The Board presented a paint-by-numbers picture to the committee.
Their presentation and graphics were clearly made to show that Westdale
and Kirkendall/Durand are the areas where surplus pupil spaces exist.
About 300 spots in each area.
If the reaction at EK's Open House is any indication, South West
parents clearly see it as unfair that the full force of these cuts
have landed on their doorstep while completely missing Westdale.
I just hope that Westdale parents don't jump to any conclusions
that this solution is in their best interest. I don't think it is.
Only Phase 2 of a 3 Phase Plan?
The prevailing thought at EK's Open House was that political assumptions
about money and power went into the Board's scenario. I suspect
that the thinking is actually more complex than who has more pull.
First and foremost, there is a preference on the part of the Board
to put students into portable units as this translates into New
Pupil Placement (NPP) grants to build new schools. The Provincial
Funding Formula is clear: In order to build new schools in the suburbs,
there must be a surplus of students in the system. Westdale schools
(Prince Philip and Dalewood) both rely heavily on portables, so
that makes closing these schools less desirable.
That doesn't mean Westdale residents can give a sigh of relief.
After all, three factors still count against schools in this area.
- Stats-Can figures show that more homes are being converted to
university student housing; more than 49% according to the latest
published results.
- In particular, George R. Allan is under-subscribed according
to the Ministry Funding Formula.
- By placing the full brunt of the cuts on the east side of the
403 (instead of a balanced solution), Westdale will still be left
with a surplus of 299 student spaces.
Gazing into my crystal ball, I can see the need to build new schools
in the suburbs is going to continue. Those 299 spaces in Westdale
are going to look like easy pickings after consolidation at Sanford
and Earl Kitchener. Keep in mind that this is phase II of the process.
No one has said it is the final phase.
It's not hard to imagine that the plan is to remove 375 seats now
and another 380 from Westdale a year or two from now.
Not only would this eliminate the Ministry defined surplus of space,
it would create a shortage. This shortage would be handled by placing
another 250+ students into portables on top the hundreds of west
end elementary kids already using portable units.
To the Board and it's Supervisor, 250 students in portables equals
250 NPP (New Pupil Placement) grants to build new schools where
the growth is forecast--the outer suburbs. And that is what "School
System Revitalization" boils down to: Putting our children
into portables to generate NPP grants so that kids in The Meadowlands
can have a brand new school. That doesn't seem quite fair.
Closing Schools and Adding Portables is Unfair and Unwise
Community schools are one of the greatest benefits of living in
established, urban areas. There is a very real danger that a lack
of community schools coupled with increased use of portables will
drive families away. If so, enrollment issues will only get worse.
We need to ensure these schools are revitalized -- not victimized.
It is wrong to put students into portables to subsidize building
new schools in another area. It's also bad for urban renewal, contributes
to urban sprawl and is hard on our cities.
It's time for municipal, provincial and federal politicians to
weigh in on the issue of school revitalization and ensure the health
of our children and communities. What might solve a problem for
the Board in the short-term will be bad for all of us in the long
term.
For more news please visit the News Index.
If you have something to say on this matter, join
a discussion in our discussion forums.
LockeStreet.com welcomes your comments
and suggestions. Read more about this
site.
<top>
Be sure to visit the LockeStreet.com
Service Directory |
