Editorial- November 29, 2006

S.O.S.

The SOS, better known as the "Save Our School", battle cry is being heard daily in all our communities with impending school closures or not since the Future Directions Committee of the English New Frontiers School Board announced in late September that St-Joseph Elementary School in Huntingdon will be closed at the end of this school year, and Franklin and Howick Elementary Schools will be closed by the end of the 2008 school year. Numerous parents, residents without children, municipal representatives, and business leaders are loudly answering this urgent appeal for help. Just read all the letters to the editor in The Gleaner in recent weeks for some proof of the public chorus of disapproval.

Late last week, I was hand delivered as well as e-mailed a copy of "The Franklin Community's Response to The Future Directions Committee". Without a lie, it grabbed and held my rapt attention as I read in one sitting the brilliantly, well-written, well-researched document that was also beautifully highlighted with photos. I also received by e-mail the equally sound and solid "Howick Elementary School Brief to the Future Directions Committee". Both schools should be congratulated for meticulously doing their homework in such a short period of time. St-Joseph Elementary School also deserves high marks for holding a support rally/walk/march this past Saturday. If the Future Directions Committee doesn't listen to what was expertly said in these documents and react to the fact at least 90 residents of various ages with just a few days' notice turned out for the school support rally, and judge what all the other concerned citizens are regularly writing in the media, then something, namely the whole process of engaging the communities in the consultation to address the concerns created by the changing realities within the New Frontiers School Board, is very, very seriously skewed.

There is a genuine difference between hot under the collar, emotional ranting and raving to keep a school open just because of past or present connections with it, and the step-by-step, intellectual and logical debates in a quest to find solid solutions together to keep these three English schools in our communities open that is in fact happening. The Franklin, Howick, and St-Joseph Elementary Schools' communities - from the governing boards and parents to other residents, business owners and local politicians - have professionally banded together and met the consequential challenges head on in a matter of a few short weeks. They have all put a great deal of effort in offering unique, money-making options for their schools to do that the New Frontiers School Board has never suggested when it knew long before anyone else that it was under heavy pressure to save money and streamline efficiency.

This is a long-term issue that can't be quickly solved with the New Frontiers School Board's short-term solution of two scenarios to simply close the three English schools and funnel the students elsewhere to balance their budget. Enrollments will continue to go down, costs will continue to go up, and in a few years time other schools, English and French, will be forced to close in the future too. The bottom lines for all our rural communities and the potential outcome of all our students in the New Frontiers School Board's current 11 elementary schools, two high schools and two adult/vocational centres have to be considered as well.

The three schools slated for closure have found numerous methods to raise whatever funds and offer more educational opportunities that are needed to get them out of their precarious position. Schools are more than buildings in our communities and one school shouldn't have to vote against another in order to survive. The schools and communities are now working together in order to continue to raise successful scholars. Can we say the New Frontiers School Board Commissioners are willing to do the same by committing to a credible planning process or do they simply want to close the door on our schools, our students and our communities?

Susanne J. Brown