Specialized schools to stay open

Concerned parents seek assurances of long-term province commitment

Supporters of two specialized schools in London say they’re cautiously optimistic after the province announced Monday the schools will stay open for the upcoming school year.

The province put five schools for special needs children, including London’s Robarts School for the Deaf and Amethyst Demonstration School, under review earlier this year, sparking fears from parents and staff that they would close.

“People are happy and guarded at the same time, because we just don’t know what the plan is,” Katrina Elchami, whose son attended Amethyst Demonstration School in London, said Monday.

“We want a long-term commitment.”

When asked whether Monday’s announcement meant the schools would be open permanently or just for the 2016-17 school year, a spokesperson would only say, “There are no plans to close the schools.”

Robarts teaches deaf students American Sign Language while

students of average to high intelligence with severe learning disabilities attend the Amethyst school. Students live at both schools that operate separately on Highbury Avenue and go home on the weekend.

Wendy Haggitt, parent council head of Amethyst school, said she hopes to have more information following a meeting Monday with Education Minister Mitzie Hunter at the Trillium Demonstration School in Milton.

Hunter requested the meeting with administrators from the demonstration schools and others, said Haggitt, whose daughter attended Amethyst.

An interview request with Hunter was declined.

Monday’s announcement comes on the heels of the release of a report by the Ministry of Education that analyzed the different supports available at demonstration schools.

The 75-page report took into account feedback from parents and students, both past and present, along with teachers and staff.

“It was definitely in favour of the demonstration schools,” Haggitt said.

Elchami added: “It completely backs up everything we’ve been saying all along.”

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath urged Premier Kathleen Wynne to keep the schools open “in the long term to put parents’ minds at ease” and stop further cuts to special education funding across the province.

Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown said he is awaiting further details and confirmation the schools will remain open beyond next year.

The province also announced “intensive reading intervention projects” will be introduced in school boards as a pilot project and a reference group will be established “to provide guidance and input on strengthening supports for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.”

Parents and students at Ontario’s demonstration schools have waged a public battle with the province over the fate of the institutions.

In April, hundreds of supporters gathered at Queen’s Park to support a motion in the legislature asking the province to recognize the importance of the schools and commit to their future. The motion was defeated, with both Premier Kathleen Wynne and deputy premier Deb Matthews voting against it.

The 2012 Drummond Report recommended closing demonstration schools and moving their students to mainstream schools. The total budget for the nine provincial and demonstration schools is $87.6 million.