I have travelled throughout the world and moved here from Australia 14 years ago because of this vibrant little community, knowing this little school was at the heart of everything I loved about the area. Let me tell you – when you walk through the door at Petite Elementary, you don’t just walk into a school, you walk into an extended family of sorts and a committed community made up of teachers, parents and others that support not only our children and their learning, but each other…& the cumulative benefits of which can’t be factored into any spreadsheet.
But if I was to focus on spreadsheets and numbers for a moment, I would add that there has not been sufficient explanation of the calculations regarding bus times, for example and what the “direct bussing model” even means. It already takes nearly an hour for kids in Vogler’s Cove to get to Petite, so you can’t tell me that it’s going to take about the same time to travel substantially further away, even with the one extra bus staff suggest.
I would also add that during his recent interview with CBC, school board chair Elliott Payzant cherry-picked his facts referencing the cost for A&A renovations for example, but failed to mention the consultants report also determined the A&A option was the “best educational value” for students and that’s this is half the price of a new build.
Time is ticking South Shore Regional School Board and you would do well to listen to what your provincial representatives and what the collective community around you is saying. Pull up your socks and figure out a solution to this mess you have put yourselves in.. and do it now.
Sally Steele