Colborne-Holmesville ARC Meeting Highlights
This was the fourth meeting of the Holmesville-Colborne ARC held at Colborne Central Public School Victoria Campus in Goderich. About 50 people were in attendance in the gallery to observe the meeting.
Comments from Committee Members
Brian Barnim, Municipal Representative from Central Huron spoke once again to the need to keep a rural school option. He says there has been considerable discussion in the communities supporting that idea.
Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Municipal Representative Connie Black also spoke in favour of the rural option, even if it means Colborne cannot be kept open.
Bryan Olson of Holmesville PS and Glen McNeil of Colborne PS also spoke to the rural option. Mr. Olson ask those in attendance to raise their hands if they supported keeping at least one if the schools open and the majority of those in attendance supported the concept.
Public Consultation Session
Selena Hazlitt is a graduate of Colborne PS and a parent. She told the Committee of the shock of what happened to the school back last spring. She outlined an option for consideration that called for the closing of both Colborne and Holmesville, sending the Colborne students to a newly named JK - 8 school at the former Victoria site as well as Holmesville students who are in the GDCI catchment area. Holmesville students within Central Huron Secondary School catchment area would attend Clinton Public School and parents wishing to border cross could do so to a Goderich school. She says the Board's investment to get Victoria ready as a temporary location for Colborne students would then not be wasted.
Tom Trick is a former student at Holmesville PS. He spoke of the benefits of small schools to the education of students. He says that he has spent time reviewing all of the available information. He says its clear that the rural school option needs to be continued and will serve to bring former students back to their home communities. He said that both Colborne and Holmesville are examples of excellent education and that should be a consideration in any decision.
Financial Impact with Two Rural Options
Board Information Analyst Hugh Cox outline the financial implications of the two rural options which are outlined in the following reports.
Rural Options
Financial Implications - Jan 18, 2012
Open Discussion
Committee Chair Wayne Tessier commented that there seems to be a breaking apart of the group in terms of thoughts for the ARC recommendations.
Brian Barnim agreed that it seems the two school groups are now going in different directions. He indicated that he was quite surprised by the presentation by Selena Hazlitt to close both schools and revitalize Victoria School. He observed that it is now like a divorce and the new options presented do not support the rural option and the two sides need to reconcile their differences.
Selena Hazlitt responded that when she presented at the podium it was as a parent and not as a representative on the ARC. She was filling in at this meeting for Rebecca Ingham - School Council Rep for Colborne who was unable to attend. She says she realizes that what she proposed doesn't please everybody, but her thoughts were that of a parent. She says she did not dismiss the rural option, but was just offering an alternative option that could be considered.
Glen McNeil of Colborne PS and Superintendent of Education Mike Ash had a discussion about enrolment projections and the board's excess capacity. Superintendent Ash pointed out that the real challenge facing the board is that it does not get funded for the empty spaces. He says the status quo is just not an option.Mr. McNeil also asked about the asbestos in the former Victoria and if it was safe in the building. Superintendent Ash responded that the asbestos is encapsulated and as long as it is not disturbed. If there were any renovations undertaken, the asbestos would then have to be professionally removed.
There was further discussion about the delegation made tonight by Selena Hazlitt. Superintendent Ash commented that while its preferred that the ARC build consensus it is not always possible.
Selena Hazlitt brought forward a motion that Board Staff cost the option outlined in her presentation and provide that information to the Committee by February 10, 2012. The motioned was carried.
Next Meeting
Colborne Central PS – February 15, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
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It has come to my attention that Colborne parents have received another survey asking for their input as to which option they would like. Unfortunately there must have been an oversight by the creator of this survey as there is an option not included in it. That option being the one that brings Colborne as a whole into Holmesville PS, which in turn allows everyone to have a rural option as well as keeping all students together. I mention this simply to clarify to all the parents what is on the table.
Sincerely,
Melissa Peterson
Holmesville PS
I think that all Colborne parents directed to this site should realize that the 2 options that were financed out by Mr Cox above did not include the Victoria Campus option. The committee was informed that the Victoria option would not be able to be financed out in time due to the complexity of the details and therefore I took that to mean it would not be considered. The second option above is one where all of Colborne students attend Holmesville and therefore meets the requirement of anyone wanting to keep all the students together. Thank You
It should be mentioned somewhere that Holmesville cannot actually accommodate ALL Colborne children. They are relying on the fact that many parents will send their child somewhere else. They should stop selling this option in such a way that it makes it sound like they will all remain together. They won't. Half the parents will put their child in a school other than Holmesville, therefore, dividing the children. The only REAL option to keep them together is the Victoria Campus solution. And rural school should not be defined by geography.... it should be defined by feeling. Walk into the Victoria Campus on a school morning like I do everyday and you will know instantly that it is a rural school with a very rural school feeling. Thank you.
A couple of thoughts to add to Mrs. Johnston's comment above.
If the Victoria school option is determined to be too expensive, which seems like a very likely outcome, the decision will be between keeping a rural school open that is full and vibrant or having no rural school now or in the future. It seems that the people that voice support for this option are not acknowledging the financial issues that the board faces. Here are a couple of thoughts that I have given serious thought to and that the Rural Option accommodates.
"Our rural heritage is not negotiable. Under no circumstances do we want to see our children bussed into the town of Goderich...."
"Combine Colborne and Holmesville into a single JK-8 rural school at whichever rural building is in the best physical shape and could best handle the additional classrooms that would be required."
These were taken from the Colborne representative's submission to the 2001 Accommodation Review.
Does the Victoria school idea accurately reflect the view of the Colborne School community?
Has there been a complete reversal of what was believed to be the best route to take and does it willingly give away what the concerned people of the community and past students believed to be "not negotiable".
The Rural Option is a compromise that best meets the need of the two student bodies desire to stay together, the board's financial constraints and the communities need for preserving identity, strenth and solid education. Should there be some parents that choose to cross border their children to other schools, it will be their choice that seperates their children from the group. Enrollment projections show a small need for additional space at the current Holmesville building. If that is not compensated for by cross bordering, it is a hurdle to overcome.
One other factor that seems to be going unnoticed or unmentioned is that while the Victoria idea gives everything to the people that think it is a good way forward, it absolutely divides the Holmesville student body and throws away a shool that is in very good repair. Is this a way to work together for the mutual benefit of most?
The critial function of this whole process is to come to the best solution that money allows - get informed - come to the meetings - have your voice heard. The trustees need to understand what everyone needs and wants.