No changes needed
Parents question the need and urgency of rezoning in Morell family of schools
Rushing through proposed changes in the Morell Family of Schools could put the facilities at a future risk rather than helping provide better education for students, a number of parents said during a Public Schools Branch meeting in the community Monday night.
Some speakers at the meeting also suggested increasing catchment areas to bring more students into the underutilized family of schools.
About 200 individuals attended the feedback session at Morell Regional High School.
Although there are no closures proposed for the family of schools, with most recommendations being rezoning, many presenters said they saw no clear benefits to proposed changes and felt it would disrupt students.
Leanne Feehan, vicepresident of the Mount Stewart Home and School Association, said the change would move students from an under-utilized school and could increase busing times.
“It does not make sense, it appears as though you’re trying to weaken the Morell family of schools. What other logical conclusion is there,” said Feehan, who also expressed concern that lower student numbers would then lead to cuts in resources and increases in split classes. “It’s supposed to be better education for all, not a cheaper education for all.”
Feehan also said the community had fallen victim to school closures in 2009 and that redirecting students again would further split the community.
“No matter how we look at this, it doesn’t seem like a well thought-out, forward-thinking plan. It seems as though you’re making changes just for the sake of making changes and not thinking about the consequences in the future,” she said.
Proposed changes for the family of schools include rezoning Savage Harbour students to Mount Stewart Consolidated while merging the south portion of the Mount Stewart Consolidated catchment area with the Montague family of schools.
The changes also would include reconfiguring Mount Stewart Consolidated and Morell Consolidated to Grades K-6 and Morell Regional High School to Grades 7-12.
Amanda Clinton of Savage Harbour said she was told the solution would be greener by reducing bus times, although she questioned that.
Clinton also said the changes would affect students’ mental health, which was a common concern brought up throughout the night.
“My disagreement with this recommendation is in regards to my concern of disrupting our children, who have roots here in Morell, for no beneficial reason,” said Clinton.
“What is the purpose of rezoning Savage Harbour to Mount Stewart? Why rob from one under-utilized school to another and not replace the populace in the first school?”
Some speakers also said the changes felt like an attack on rural P.E.I. Several individuals stood at the back of the meeting with signs reading “Rural Matters.”
Parent Adam Drake said the recommendations felt like an assault on the community and would leave the school in a vulnerable state.
“Through rezoning, they’re removing resources from the school. That’s weakening the school and placing it in jeopardy for closure in future reviews,” he said.
“I don’t think that’s an accident.”
Public Schools Branch chairwoman Susan Willis thanked speakers prior to the meeting and said the school review process will end in March.
“I can assure you no decisions have been made on these recommendations and will not be made until the end of this process,” she said.