Councillors reject interference in school closures
BURLINGTON — Councillors have voted not to get involved with potential high school closures in Burlington.
Coun. Paul Sharman brought forward a motion Monday to have the city ask the province to “suspend all current school closure reviews” in Burlington until the public board addresses “significant process concerns.”
Community consultation and understanding the purpose and objectives of an accommodation review were among the concerns.
Sharman called initial recommendations made in the Halton District School Board’s preliminary report under-researched, a flaw that led to misinformation.
“Those recommendations to close Pearson and Central were without sufficient evidence. That caused a significant disruption in this city and to the families in this city,” he said.
Denise Davy, a delegate at Monday’s meeting, said the “misinformation” that caused Bateman to be added on the list of schools considered for closure “shows how flawed this process has been.”
Davy said Bateman’s diverse programming draws students from all over Burlington, not just its catchment area.
The school board’s program accommodation review committee is looking at six options that could affect several schools: Aldershot High School, M.M. Robinson, Dr. Frank J. Hayden Secondary School, Nelson, Burlington Central, Lester B. Pearson and Robert Bateman high schools — the latter four are in the mix for possible closure.
Mayor Rick Goldring, who opposed Sharman’s motion, said the review process could be improved, noting there was no clear understanding of how schools were identified for possible closure.
The motion failed 5-2, with Sharman and Coun. Blair Lancaster its only supporters.
Ward 2 Coun. Marianne Meed Ward and Ward 3 Coun. John Taylor vehemently voiced opposition to the motion. Taylor argued it was inappropriate to bring party politics or any political body into council.
“This is party politics at its worst,” he said. “The succeeding generations are smaller and … we have to deal with this now.”
Meed Ward said the province isn’t going to interfere with one board’s work.
“This (motion) asks it to step in for Burlington. It’s irresponsible and inappropriate,” she said.
Meed Ward explained in order for an accommodation review committee to be established, the board needs to identify problems, which she said it has: programming challenges of students and 1,800 empty spaces across Burlington’s school system.
“Some schools are going to have to be closed because we cannot afford to keep them open. It is the job of the province and those elected officials (board trustees) to make these tough calls,” Ward 1 Coun. Rick Craven said.