By Tina Comeau
THE VANGUARD
NovaNewsNow.com
A new group called People Putting Students First has been formed with the overall aim being to halt the Tri-County Regional School Board’s decision to reconfigure Maple Grove and Yarmouth Junior High.
The group wants the board to allow for public input into the issue.
“We oppose the decision that the school board has made by not following the appropriate process,” said Yarmouth Junior High School parent Rachel McGray, co-chair of the new group. “We’re asking them to follow the process whereby they allow all parties with an interest to have involvement in the process and to reach a reconfiguration structure that meets the need of our community.”
The group was formed at a May 6 meeting. Present were about 30 parents from Maple Grove and 20 from Yarmouth Junior High.
Kerry Muise, chair of the Maple Grove school advisory council, is the chair of the new group.
“We have subdivided into smaller working groups to work on different areas that we need to tackle,” explained McGray.
“We’re asking them to follow the process whereby they allow all parties with an interest to have involvement in the process and to reach a reconfiguration structure that meets the need of our community.” - Parent Rachel McGray
She said some parents are looking into filing human rights complaints on behalf of special needs children. There is group compiling research and data to support the claim that the board hasn’t allotted appropriate time for transitioning. Research will also be gathered on the detrimental impact of students having to make multiple movements among schools.
Another group is working in consultation with a lawyer to file a legal claim.
A Facebook group will also be formed.
Many parents opposed to the school board’s decision turned out for the board’s monthly meeting on May 4.
At the conclusion of that meeting board member Winnie Surette gave notice of motion that at the board’s June 1 meeting she will ask the board to rescind its April 20 motion to reconfigure the two schools. Surette said the board needs to allow for public consultation before making such a decision.
sure, why not... ever hear the saying,"What's good for the goose is good for the gander". Also, I don't believe we were "accusing" but rather FACT that the TCRSB did not consult those directly affected by their decision. However, I'm sure that if they requested to join like the rest of us that they would also be accepted.