At a special meeting of the Halton District School Board on December 10th, 2008 Trustees passed 4 motions unanimously. The first 3 motions passed without debate, while their was lengthy debate on the fourth motion.
The motions passed are: [editor's note: underlined items are additions by Trustees and striked out text are Trustee deletions]
Be it resolved the Halton District School Board ask the Director to bring a report to the Board in January 2009, reviewing the findings of the facilitator, giving consideration to the report’s recommendations, and outliningtaking steps to develop appropriate responses.
Be it resolved that the Halton District School Board suspend implementation of motion, M08-0147, pending further resolutions of the Board.
Be it resolved that the Halton District School Board construct a elementary school at capacity of 500 in Southeast Oakville (Ward 3) in the area north of Cornwall known as Clearview, subject to the Minister of Education’s authorization.
Be it resolved that the Halton District School Board direct staff to develop a community consultation process with Ministry input by January 2009, for Board consideration, to explore solutions and work from the Board’s goal of meeting the accommodation and program needs of students of Ward 3 Oakvillein Southeast Oakville; with the process to include timelines, representation and alternative accommodation options.
A complete copy of the Board Report 08165 is availble by clicking on the READ MORE button.
In an open letter to the new Halton District School Board chair, Bruce Jones (Trustee for Oakville's Wards 5 &6) that appeared in Wednesday December 10, 2008 Oakville Beaver, Oakville Residents for Public Education calls on the school board to follow the Cooke recommendations and rebuild its relationship with the community.
Oakville Residents for Public Education a group fighting school closures in southeast Oakville believes there must now be a reprieve from the decision by the Halton District School Board to close four neighbourhood schools.
Oakville Residents for Public Education coordinated a request for an Administrative Review by the province of the local school board’s decision. The findings of that review determined that a flawed process was employed by the local board in arriving at its decision to close four schools. The report noted “that the Halton District School Board failed to adhere to its Board-approved policy”
“The closure decision must be put on hold immediately,” stressed group spokesperson Mark Caskenette. “If the process is flawed, then the decision is flawed; it is that simple. There is an opportunity now for the school board to conduct this process correctly by working with all the affected parties and finding a solution that respects the character and history of our community.”
Local school board members voted in July to close Brantwood Public School, Linbrook Public School, Chisholm Public School and New Central School. The Board wants to use funds from the sale of the four school sites to construct a new school in a more recently settled area of Oakville.
In addition to flawed process, area residents were concerned about the decision itself, including: • Loss of walk-to community schools • Loss of priceless green space, in a mature community • Viability of the Board’s plan, in light of the current economic conditions.
Oakville Residents for Public Education appreciates the efforts of local MPP Kevin Flynn who supported an independent review of the Board's process and is urging all parties to explore techniques that will facilitate community driven recommendations and solutions.
“Mr. Flynn can continue to play a role by assisting in the first stage of coordinating efforts to develop a comprehensive solution that is arrived at through an open and transparent process,” said Caskenette. “The process then should move forward with the involvement of all impacted parties and be overseen by an independent and well-respected individual. We are confident a satisfactory solution for all involved can be achieved. “
Our issue is fairness, equality and an open, transparent process to ensure our children receive the best possible education within Southeast Oakville. Our goal is to seek a balanced solution that benefits all communities in SE Oakville, with local walk to schools.
The process employed by the Halton District School Board lacked transparency. The Board’s decision to close four schools was never a model considered in public discussion and debate. A full copy of the request for an Administrative Review of the Board’s decision can be found here, Grounds for Appeal (1.66 MB)
A school injects energy, activity and stability into its neighborhoods. A school closure deeply wounds neighborhood value and pride. Closing four schools represents a debilitating blow.
We strongly believe a flawed process was used by the Board in reaching its decision to close the neighbourhood schools. If the review confirms the process was flawed then the Board’s decision is flawed.
The decision arrived at by the Trustee's is fundamentally at odds with quality education, community values and the protection of green space. The results of the Provincial EQAO testing speak for themselves. Halton EQAO results 2007/2008 (49.5 kB) published by the Halton District School Board show that 3 of the top 5 schools in Halton are slated to be closed by the school board in their wide ranging decision.
We believe walk-to schools are a priority -- walk-to schools are part of an active lifestyle. The Premier and the Minister of Education support schools as the hub or centre of a community.
It does not make sense to close four schools in one part of the community to fund a new school in another neighbourhood. We are seeking a solution that respects the character and history of southeast Oakville.
The area relies greatly on school properties to accommodate recreational activities Those green spaces serve the entire neighbourhood, from toddler to senior citizen, and they will disappear forever.
Plans by the local school board to close four schools in southeast Oakville is galvanizing residents in the area. A united front is taking shape to protect the area below Cornwall and the neighbourhoods in which we all live.
We will use all the necessary resources to help achieve a model that is fully supported by the community and arrived at through an open and transparent process.
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Public school board will build new school in Clearview, but will reconsider school closures in southeast Oakville
Cooke Report on HDSB SE Oakville school closure process (
Halton EQAO results 2007/2008 (
