Be sure to tune into News 95.7 today at 2pm with Sheldon MacLeod (former SAC Chair of Hebville when flawed motion was made to close schools) and current PRES SAC Chair, Leif Helmer.
What a week!
4 prime time radio spots on CBC 1, 3 letters to Lighthouse, 2 stories on CKBW and 1 video with over 15,000 views in less than 24 hours! Our blog and petition went live. Lots of impassioned letters from community to officials. Third action team meeting.
AND the staff at PRES went above and beyond and hosted amazing Winter Carnival activities all week to make every day special despite some upsetting headlines kids may have been privy to.
This one goes out to you – Freedom Fighters. Happy Weekend!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eGbflROpDE&app=desktop
…overburdening that school with 150 new students.
Dear Ms. Casey,
I am writing to you to express my concern over the SSRSB meeting on February 22, 2017 that I attended in which the motion to close Petite Riviere Elementary School was discussed.
I was very hopeful going into the meeting that the board would have a chance to review new information regarding projected enrollment numbers, and new circumstances surrounding the availability of money for an Addition & Alteration to either Petite or Pentz. This was not the case. Instead the board emphasized old information, discussed the finality of the motion to close the schools, and the legal opinion of their lawyer, which is only an opinion and does not mean that the motion cannot be rescinded.
With new information, and new circumstances the motion to close the schools may be rescinded and considering how many errors were made in the passing of the motion that the board admitted to (the contingency to open a new school in the area, the lack of legal council in place during the vote on the motion, and not letting the public know about the appeal process), I find it unconscionable that the board would call a motion to rescind “out of order” which Elliot Payzant did.
I do not feel that this board is working in the best interests of the community or it’s children nor do I think it is responsible to burden the municipality with 2 more empty schools. I do not feel comfortable paying for a sub-par education for my children while at the same time watching a perfectly good building (according to the Stantec report that was just done on it) rot away.
In addition, I think it is a disservice to the education of the children at Hebbville Academy where the SSRSB projected most students from Petite and Pentz to relocate to, potentially overburdening that school with 150 new students.
I don’t know what to say other than that I do not feel that the board is motivated by an earnest desire to serve all students of the SSRSB nor do I feel they are representing me or the region, and they are not acting in the best interests of all schools involved; Pentz, Petite or Hebbville. I feel there is a definite lack of due diligence in this matter.
Thank you,
Johanna Hayes
My children are thriving at this school…
As a parent of 2 children attending Petite Riviere Elementary School, I wanted to express my displeasure and disagreement with the decision to close the school.
I wanted to let you know how special PRES is to me and my children, and how lucky we feel to have such a wonderful school in our community. My children are thriving at this school and it was one of the reasons we chose to buy a house in this community 6 years ago.
The impending closure has brought a lot of stress and strain into our lives as we are concerned about the transportation issue brought about by relocating our children to a new school. We are also concerned about the value of our home declining without a school in the community to attract future residents. It is the biggest investment our humble family has ever made, and now it looks like a bad one even though our community seems to be thriving.
It seems that bad decisions are being made for this community because of an ill-fitting business model. Not all communities fit the fiscal mold, and this one of those. The model needs to be changed, not the school.
We are still hoping that our exemplary school will be saved.
Sincerely
Johanna Hayes
Petition Time!
Sign the online petition and share with your family, friends & community…near and far!
NOTE: It will direct you to sign in to change.org to complete your signature, which means you need to go to your inbox (within an hour of signing the petition) and click on the link provided. This important step will ensure your signature is added. You have the option to receive change.org emails or opt out of any further notifications from them. Thanks!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3GRXJiNoqo?rel=0]
…this little school was at the heart of everything I love about the area.
I’m a parent of two children at Petite Riviere Elementary School and am writing in support of our school. I want to extend appreciation to Mark Furey, our local MLA for supporting the move to keep Petite open and to Minister Karen Casey for providing leadership on this issue and offering $6 million for a renovation.
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.
Regards
Sally Steele
Sally Steele
Buttons Available!
Thank you to Ulo Greer for the pin maker & supplies!
Pins are available by donation at:
Pins will also be available on Tuesday, March 14th 2017 at:
South Shore Natural Food (215 Dominion Street in Bridgewater)
…not acting in the best interests of all schools involved
Dear Ms. Casey,
I am writing to you to express my concern over the SSRSB meeting on February 22, 2017 that I attended in which the motion to close Petite Riviere Elementary School was discussed.
I was very hopeful going into the meeting that the board would have a chance to review new information regarding projected enrollment numbers, and new circumstances surrounding the availability of money for an Addition & Alteration to either Petite or Pentz. This was not the case. Instead the board emphasized old information, discussed the finality of the motion to close the schools, and the legal opinion of their lawyer, which is only an opinion and does not mean that the motion cannot be rescinded.
With new information, and new circumstances the motion to close the schools may be rescinded and considering how many errors were made in the passing of the motion that the board admitted to (the contingency to open a new school in the area, the lack of legal council in place during the vote on the motion, and not letting the public know about the appeal process), I find it unconscionable that the board would call a motion to rescind “out of order” which Elliot Payzant did.
I do not feel that this board is working in the best interests of the community or it’s children nor do I think it is responsible to burden the municipality with 2 more empty schools. I do not feel comfortable paying for a sub-par education for my children while at the same time watching a perfectly good building (according to the Stantec report that was just done on it) rot away.
In addition, I think it is a disservice to the education of the children at Hebbville Academy where the SSRSB projected most students from Petite and Pentz to relocate to, potentially overburdening that school with 150 new students.
I don’t know what to say other than that I do not feel that the board is motivated by an earnest desire to serve all students of the SSRSB nor do I feel they are representing me or the region, and they are not acting in the best interests of all schools involved; Pentz, Petite or Hebbville. I feel there is a definite lack of due diligence in this matter.
Thank you
Johanna Hayes
Action planners planning. Community builders building. World class educators, entrepreneurs, parents, grandparents, citizens.
