Thank you to all who came out for a productive meeting! We’re excited to work together on new initiatives for 2018/2019!
Original CKBW article can be found HERE
The Nova Scotia government announced yesterday they would be reviewing how education is administered throughout the province.
Lief Helmer is a parent and part of the organization that took the South Shore Regional School Board to court to prevent the closure of Petite Riviere Elementary School.
He calls the education system, broken.
“The boards have been reduced to governing boards or policy boards, but they don’t represent the communities they’re voted from. They say that straight up, that they have to represent the system. That’s a very amorphous concept that nobody gets.”
Helmer would rather see an Education Ministry with regional offices.
He says that would to reduce service duplication as well make those representatives accountable to the minister, and ultimately the electorate.
Helmer commends government for calling for the review but thinks the timelines are too tight.
“I’m a little concerned that three months is not enough time for somebody to become immersed in the deep level of dysfunction that exists between the department and its boards and its communities. The public trust has been broken a number of times.”
Helmer feels board superintendents have too much power.
He says that authority should be back in the hands of the elected, Minister of Education.
Helmer’s group will present their concerns to the education review committee sometime in November.
MODL is seeking input from community members and groups on how they can support rural schools in the area.
“On Wednesday, July 19 and Monday, July 24, the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg will host community consultations on the issue of rural school closures.”
The dates are:
Wednesday, July 19
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
LaHave Fire Hall
3358 Hwy 331
Monday, July 24
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Northfield District Fire Hall
223 Nova Scotia Trunk 10
For more info, see the full release here: MODL Hosting Community Consultations
Some very generous & hard working community members have organized a lovely event this Saturday, April 29th from 11AM-1PM at the Vogler’s Cove Community Hall (8544 Hwy 331, Vogler’s Cove).
All proceeds will go toward efforts to keep a school here!
Thank you to all the community volunteers who organized & contributed to this event!
From 2013: “The South Shore Regional School Board has confirmed Hebbville Academy cannot reasonably accommodate students from both Pentz and Petite Riviere elementaries.”
What circumstances have changed such that the current SSRSB feels that closing both Pentz/Petite and sending the kids to Hebbville is now a viable solution?
From 2013, the previous Superintendent said (wrt closing both schools and sending them to Hebbville):
“I believe that’s not a configuration that we would ever bring forward to the board for consideration.”
She then followed up to clarify that the study committees never studied the scenario in which both schools close:
“So I do think it’s safe to say that option was not detailed in the reports because it was not considered a viable option.”
The board chair at that time was also Mr. Payzant. The article is worth reading in its entirety for further insight into the position of the board at the time of the motions.
Below is the full article reprinted with permission from LighthouseNOW. Thanks to https://lighthousenow.ca for generously allowing this article to be shared.
January 3rd, 2013
Schools under review for possible closure
by Stacey Colwell
COUNTY – The South Shore Regional School Board has confirmed Hebbville Academy cannot reasonably accommodate students from both Pentz and Petite Riviere elementaries.
“I think we can put that to rest,” said superintendent Nancy Pynch-Worthylake at a meeting in the Hebbville cafeteria last month.
Both Pentz and Petite are under review for possible closure through a formal school review process.
“It is numerically possible to close both schools and fit [their students] on this campus,” explained Ms Pynch-Worthylake.
However, she noted that would mean all Primary to Grade 2 students, and some of the Grade 3s, would attend classes in the annex, and all others up to Grade 9 would be in the main building.
“I believe that’s not a configuration that we would ever bring forward to the board for consideration.”
In addition, Ms Pynch-Worthylake said the committees which are studying the issues presented in previous impact assessment reports were under the impression one of the two schools could close and its students go to the Academy, but
not both.
“So I do think it’s safe to say that option was not detailed in the reports because it was not considered a viable option.”
Director of operations Steve Prest added moving students from both schools to the Academy would also result in the displacement of several programs there, which was another factor in the recommendation.
Impact assessment reports by Deloitte Inc. determined Hebbville’s Grade 6 to 9 building could accommodate an extra six classrooms, or approximately 150 students, if it sacrificed space being used for regional board services, an after-school program, a fitness centre and a games room.
Currently, there are 180 students in the Primary to Grade 5 annex, 98 at Pentz and 88 at Petite. By 2016, those numbers are expected to decrease to 167, 83 and 79, respectively.
According to Deloitte, by closing Pentz and moving its students to Hebbville, the board would save an estimated $159,000 annually. Doing the same with Petite Riviere would result in savings of about $102,000 per year. Closing the Hebbville annex would save approximately $105,000.
In addition, depending on what the board ultimately decides, Deloitte determined the following short-term capital requirements may be necessary:
• About $150,000 to renovate the Grade 6 to 9 building to accommodate younger students.
• Between $28,000 and $54,000 to maintain Petite.
• Between $23,000 and $49,000 to maintain Pentz.
Long-term capital costs to keep the schools open were estimated to be $790,000 for Pentz, $785,000 for Petite and $1.15 million for Hebbville elementary.
Closing Pentz and sending the students to Hebbville would reportedly add an additional 20 to 30 minutes of bus time for students, and some would be on the bus a maximum of 50 minutes. Travel time would also increase for Petite students, with a maximum time on the bus of up to an hour.
Deloitte said building a new Primary to Grade 5 facility for students from the three schools in question would cost the provincial government a minimum of $12.9 million.
The status quo is also an option for the board.
Study committees, essentially comprised of each school’s advisory council, are currently preparing formal reports in response to Deloitte’s impact assessments.
After those are complete, following at least one public hearing, the governing board must make decisions about the outcome of the entire review process by the end of March.
In case you missed it…Beavercrest school in Markdale ON (featured on CBC’s the Current on Monday) is no longer facing closure!
Here’s the story…http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/914753603786
CBC’s The Current recently shed light on a situation in Markdale, ON concerning their own local school, which is slated for closure.
There are many parallels to our own story and is worth a listen:
http://http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/912889923550
Feel free to use the contact form to send feedback to CBC.
Feel free to draw on this letter for facts / inspiration. Include your own personal story (a great place would be after the 1st paragraph) for why the school is important to you, your children, your community, your business, etc.
THANK YOU to Margaret from Petite, who volunteered to write this template letter!
Dear Minister Casey (CC. MLA Mark Furey),
I am a proud supporter of the vibrant community of Petite Riviere. I am writing to express my concern over the South Shore Regional School Board’s decision to close Petite Riviere and Pentz Elementary Schools. I am extremely dissatisfied with the way this decision has been handled by the Board, especially in recent months, and in particular with the events that unfolded at the meeting on February 22nd, 2017.
Schools are the heart of our communities. They influence where families choose to live and serve as vital community hubs. Petite Riviere is a growing community that is drawing countless young families and entrepreneurs from as far as Western Canada and outside the country. Petite is a model community for the revitalization of rural Nova Scotia. Closing our schools would represent a giant step backwards in a movement that is gaining momentum.
The board did not intend to leave these communities without a school. Their intention was to close Petite Riviere and Pentz Elementary Schools only when a new school was built for this thriving population. A new build has been rejected three times. Now the board is cobbling together an inadequate plan to bus 150 very young children up to two hours a day to an already overcrowded school.
A much better solution is already on the table. You have informed the board that there could be funds for an A&A if they request them. A recent report has shown that this is the best value for this community. Yet the board is failing to act in the best interests of the communities and the children.
I want to extend my appreciation to Mark Furey, our local MLA, for his dedicated support to our communities and to you, Minister Karen Casey, for providing leadership on this issue. We are working hard with the help of countless volunteers. I ask you to work with us to fix this mess and take every possible action to ensure our success.
The fact that the fate of 150+ students (and growing), their families and communities should hinge on a single legal opinion is unacceptable. The idea that this decision is beyond anyone’s control is unconvincing. This school board is paralyzed by poor leadership and poor advice. I ask that you either: repeal Regulation 20 retroactive to March 2013 so that the board feels they can rescind the original motion or direct the board to apply for an A&A and complete a new school review as required by the Act.
Countless people have invested in the community of Petite Riviere – we are only asking to keep what we have built. Please use all of your abilities to resolve this unacceptable situation.
Sincerely,
Feel free to draw on this letter for facts / inspiration. Include your own personal story (a great place would be after the 1st paragraph) for why the school is important to you, your children, your community, your business, etc.
THANK YOU to Margaret from Petite, who volunteered to write this template letter!
Dear Chair Payzant and elected members of the South Shore Regional School Board,
I am a proud supporter of the vibrant community of Petite Riviere. I write to express my concern over the South Shore Regional School Board’s decision to close Petite Riviere and Pentz Elementary Schools. I am extremely dissatisfied with the way this decision has been handled by the Board, especially in recent months, and in particular with the events that unfolded on February 22nd, 2017.
Schools are the heart of our communities. They influence where families choose to live and serve as vital community hubs. Petite Riviere is a growing community that is drawing countless young families and entrepreneurs from as far as Western Canada and outside the country. This is a model community for the revitalization of rural Nova Scotia, and closing our schools would be a giant step backwards in a movement that is gaining momentum.
We don’t believe the board intended to leave these communities without a school or have four-year-olds commute two hours on a bus every day to a large, overcrowded school. The intention was to close Petite Riviere and Pentz Elementary Schools only when a new school was secured for this thriving community. A new build was rejected by the Minister three times.
Fortunately, we already have a wonderful school with incredible people behind it. The Minister has offered money for an A&A. A recent report has shown that this is the best value for this community. The solution is on the table. Request funds for an A&A. It is up to you to take action and do the right thing for the community and the children.
That the fate of 150+ students (and growing) and an entire community should hinge on a single legal opinion is unacceptable. The idea that this decision is beyond anyone’s control is unconvincing. You can rescind the original motion. Our community has secured a different legal opinion. It allows you to rescind the flawed motions and it directs you to fulfill a new school review to explore options. This is fair, transparent and responsible.
Sincerely,
