Locke Street Area Schools Spared Closure and Crowding for Now
By: Craig Hermanson
Earl Kitchener School Council Parent
27 May 2003: There is good news to go with the
bad news.
All three Area Accommodation Review Committee's (AARC) voted to
close community schools and reduce capacity just as the mandate
from the Provincial Supervisor directed them. On the other hand,
committee recommendations included new buildings in affected areas,
fewer closures than suggested and voting members (those committee
members not employed by the board) successfully appended their challenges
to the process and terms of reference to the final reports.
In the end, the board reduced the capacity in the elementry school
system as they had hoped. The reports will proceed to Board Administrative
Staff, Trustees and the Supervisor. It is important to understand
that these are recommendations only until a plan is adopted by the
Supervisor.
The committees all worked very hard. In Hamilton West, many parent
committee members believe the recommendations represent the diligent
efforts to determine what would most fairly do the least harm and
achieve the most revitalization under very restrictive circumstances.
The compromise was to recommend closing four schools so
that two new schools could be built in the same neighbourhoods where
closures were taking place. In other words; make sure revitalization
benefits those most affected by closure.
Do we have concerns? First, the loss of a school will no doubt
affect life in its neighbourhood. My hope is that the new schools
will have more of a positive effect than the loss of the old schools.
Secondly, I'm worried about the quality of the schools they'll build.
Dr. Murray notes that the average age of a school in Hamilton is
greater than 70 but the average life of a commercial building is
35 years. The sad truth is that the Allenby loft conversion will
still be standing 100 years from now -- as will any similar aged
older schools that isn't put infront of a wrecking ball -- but any
new school built today will likely have been torn down and rebuilt
twice. The funding formula pushes the board in this direction, but
the economics are very short sighted.
Just the same, I have to say I believe Board staff responded to
our calls for 'revitalization within the areas affected by school
closures'. As a parent representative of the Hamilton West committee,
I thank all who attended local meetings, the Quality Schools rally,
spread awareness of this issue, made presentations to the committee
and attended ARC meetings as spectators. I believe your
interest and actions made a difference.
Briefly, the scenario which was recommended consolidates four schools
into two new large facilities. Though larger than parents might
have hoped, we understand the size of these new schools will help
ensure a viable 'middle school' curriculum and, on average, provide
two full class rooms per grade with little reliance on split-grade
classes.
So we're done, but only for now. As the board builds new schools
throughout the system, they'll have to go hunting for more schools
to close or they will loose their funding which pays for the mortgages
on these new schools. I think it is important to note that in the
Hamilton West review area, all closure and consolidation initiated
since Supervisor Murray introduced his vision for revitalization
has occurred between John and Sherman and in the north end of the
city -- ALL schools in those areas have now been affected!
Despite the earlier closure of Allenby, if there is another review
(many see it as unavoidable) schools between John St. and Dundas
will be under consideration for closure, consolidation and revitalization
-- including EK.
Personally, I hope the urban renewal we are witnessing in our neighbourhoods
will make school closures unlikely. However, if another review is
initiated it will be important for EK parents and Kirkendall residents
to again work with our neighbours in Strathcona, Durand and Westdale
to lobby the Board and ensure we see the most positive solutions
possible come forward.
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