By Michael Gorman
THE VANGUARD
NovaNewsNow.com
Yarmouth town council waded into the contentious issue of school reconfiguration during its regular meeting last week.
The matter has been a hot-button topic in Yarmouth since the Tri-County Regional School Board (TCRSB) recently announced that it would send all Grade 7 and 8 students to Maple Grove in September and all Grade 9 students to the Yarmouth Junior High School.
The school board maintains the move is a way to address declining enrolment, preserve teaching jobs, ensure all students are offered the same academic opportunities and prepare Grade 9 students for their eventual move to a new high school on Forest Street that will include Grades 9-12.
Parents, however, say the decision was made without proper consultation with the various stakeholders. Many of those concerns have been directed to local councillors and so council requested a meeting with someone from the school board.
Trevor Cunningham read from the TCRSB’s press release on the matter before taking questions from councillors. As Cunningham read from the statement, many of the 40 or so parents and students who attended the meeting, waved pink signs emblazoned with statements such as “stop bullying our kids,” “seek public input” and “students first.”
Councillor Danny MacIsaac said the sentiment he’s received from parents is that the board didn’t do enough to consult parents, staff and even students on the matter before making such a major decision.
“I think it was unfortunate and it was unfair,” he said.
However, Cunningham stuck by the board’s view that, having conducted two reports on the matter and considering a number of recommendations, the proper process was followed.
“There was a lot of consultation done,” he said. “There was follow up. There was a board meeting. There were opportunities to address the school board. Certainly, staff is always willing to listen to the concerns of the parents and take those to the school board.”
This last point caused at least one person to say, “You’re lying,” perhaps louder than they intended.
The matter is controversial enough that at least one member of the school board has said she plans to make a motion of reconsideration at the next school board meeting in early June.
“Obviously this is going to be one of the big issues to be discussed at that time,” said Cunningham, adding that the decision was made for “very good and sound educational and practical reasons.”
Board members maintain the move will ensure all students receive the same access and opportunities to all educational and extra curricular activities as they make their way through the school system.
Still, there is a lot of fear on the part of parents as to what it might or might not mean for their children.
Councillor Ken Langille said he was “besieged” with emails on the matter.
Langille, a teacher at Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School, said the main concern he kept hearing what the lack of consultation on the matter.
But Cunningham stuck to the view of the board on the matter, saying that although he understands why some people might have concerns, ultimately the decision makes sense.
“I think the decision is the proper one,” he said. “It’s the process (that people have an issue with) . . . The decision is sound and it was done for good reason . . . Are there concerns with this? Yes, but on balance this is the best way to move forward.”
A representative for the area school advisory committees, however, disagrees.
Kerry Muise noted that a number of questions remain unanswered and prove that school board neglected its own policies in making the decision.
Muise said that although the school board was able to come to a decision on the matter, they didn’t seem to find time to ask other concerned parties in the matter what they thought of the idea.
“They had time to vote on the motion but not to consult with the stakeholders,” she said, noting that even staff members at the two schools involved were unaware of what was happening.
Muise said a number of the school transitioning requirements that are necessary in such a case have not been met, despite the decision being made.
“They haven’t met one of those (requirements) and this is their own board policy. So you can see why we feel like we’re beating a dead horse here.”
Following the presentation council passed several motions, including a request that the school board reconsider its decision until a more thorough consultation can take place.
The motion passed, although Councillor Esther Dares, who voted against the motion, said she was uncomfortable telling the school board what to do.
“I stop short of sending them a missive how to run the school board,” she said, adding that she wouldn’t be pleased to receive a similar missive from the school board.
“I don’t think it’s our place to sit here and dictate to them how they should conduct business . . . This is heavy handed.”
Dares said that although she understands why people would have a problem with the process, ultimately it is a good move for students in the area and she called the move by the school board “courageous.”
Council also passed motions to write to the school board asking that any meetings dealing with the issue be conducted in Yarmouth and that a public meeting be held to allow the public to freely express their views.
According to school board policy, presentations are typically given under more restrictive terms, requiring presenters to submit their presentation in writing a week ahead of time.
