Over forty parents and grandparents spoke out in defence of their neighbourhood school to Chris Spence, Director of Education and Trustte Jerry Chadwick.
The meeting at1:00 pmon Friday afternoon in the school gym began with an apology from Spence for his earlier postponement of the meeting. Although some of the parents had missed work on both dates to attend, no one expressed resentment for the inconvenience. Instead, many thanked the Director and the Trustee for coming.
Civil but very lively were characteristics of the discussion that followed.
The Director said he and Trustee Chadwick were was there to listen and parents proceeded to give them an earful.
- They raised even more issues than their six spokespersons had addressed in deputations before the Programs and School Services Committee a week earlier.
- They challenged the assertions of declining enrolment in their neighbourhood and that ofRougeRiver area in general. Brooks Roadis at 96% capacity with 400 pupils.
- They expressed concern for the outcome of their thriving French Immersion program if the school were to be closed.
- They pointed out the flaws and unfairness they observed in the A.R.C. process.
They especially valued the welcoming family atmosphere atBrooks Rd.
Although Spence had stated from the outset that he wouldn’t make any promises that day, both he and Chadwick were visibly moved by the sincerity of the remarks and very impressed with the turnout.
The large number of parents who left their workplaces to be present and that more than half got to their feet to comment on their school closing testified to a supposition rumoured earlier that any opposition in Brooks Road P.S. was coming from a small, very vocal but unrepresentative group.
After an hour of listening Spence got to his feet and stated he would be going back to staff for more information and that among all the comments made that day, those that people felt they had been treated unfairly were the ones that resonated with him the most.
He promised to get back to them but didn’t say when.
Both Spence and Chadwick were surrounded by parents still voicing concerns as they tried to leave. If their purpose in coming had been to gauge the strength of the community’s opposition to losing it school, there can be no doubt in their minds.
Janet Bojti, Campaign for Public Education
