By Pepper Parr
March 7th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Photo description off the police officer has been revised – turns out he was a parent attending the event.
If the Fire Marshall had known how many people were in the room – he would have ordered the building cleared.
You can’t ask for much more in the way of public engagement. Are views being changed?
The room at the New Street Educational Centre was PACKED. It was the second of two public meetings to inform parents on the details behind the six recommendations that had been settled on by the Halton District School Board Program Accommodation Review Committee (PARC). That committee may yet whittle the options down to two.
That PARC has two more meetings to take place after the Spring Break – and they will do their best to get closer to a consensus – they won’t achieve one, there are too many parents focused on saving their school. The facts as they know them suggests they will come up with two options.
Many parents don’t think the really hard work being done by the 14 PARC members is going to get reflected in the report that goes to the Director of Education.
Will these people turn out in the same numbers for the 2018 municipal election?
While parents were at the New Street Education Centre, a small group had gone to the provincial Legislature to take in the debate on a motion put forward by the leader of the Opposition Patrick Brown for a moratorium on both school closures in the province and a halt to all the PARC’s currently taking place across the province.
The motion did not pass leaving the parents who watched the debate furious with Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon who voted the Liberal party line.
There are too many reports of an overly emotional Burlington MPP who does not seem to be able to hold a rational conversation with the constituents she meets. Burlington parents feel their MPP, who is a Cabinet Minister, can have some influence on the Minister of Education, who has suggested that public school boards work with the Catholic school boards to see if they can find ways to share buildings.
A large part of the purpose behind the concept of separate schools boards was to keep the students apart. It will take decades to find a way for the two philosophies working in the same building.
This is not a happy parent.
No one liked what they were hearing at the Legislature and it wasn’t much different at the New Street Educational centre. Parents were close to enraged at times and emotions spilled over. Senior school board staff were publicly booed.
The police officer was not on “duty” – he was a parent taking part in the meeting. What was the line in that song “You don’t take your guns to town”.
The concern over how the public was going to react was so high that the board of education asked that police be on hand. The police officer on duty wasn’t there to blend in with the crowd – he was brute force incarnate.
Many of the trustees were in the room, realizing that they were next in line for a solid piece of the public ire.
Central high school parents were all over the place – some wearing the Save Central lawn signs that had been made as clothing.
Some of the trustees seemed several paces removed from what was going on.
Wards 1 and 2 school board trustee Leah Reynolds speaking to Central high school students.
During a discussion between a parent and a trustee over how keeping a school open would be paid for the parent, who appeared to have done her homework and was prepared to challenge the trustee, was told that she was being disrespectful. Not a positive sign.
There were five of the seven city council members at the first information meeting held a week earlier at Hayden high school for parents in the northern part of the city – not one in sight at this second information meeting.
Nelson students were letting everyone know they expected to be standing upright when this was all over
There was representation of Bateman parents at this second meeting but they didn’t appear to be as evident. On Saturday they gave their school a ceremonial hug – almost as if they were saying goodbye to the place.
Nelson high school made it very clear they were in the room and they expected to be standing up when this was all over.
Parents complained about not hearing any innovative or radical ideas from board staff who met in groups around board of education staff who clung to the party line – ‘we have to close schools to ensure that the children get the best education possible’.
Parents fully realize that the final decision, to be made May 17th, will be made by the trustees they elected and they want to see some steel in the spine of those trustees. The fear many, if not most have, is that the trustees are going to fold and eat the Pablum being served to them by board staff.
The PARC members were in attendance – they are much closer to the parents interests than the trustees.
Some very intelligent people look askance at the data the board is putting out and they experience serious disappointment over the way some senior staff at the board keep changing some of the numbers.
Others wonder what closing Central high school will do to property values? Will people want to buy homes in a community where their children will have to take buses to get to a classroom. They see Burlington as a community that buys into the concept of walk-ability and that want that as a big part of the lives they live.
Stuart Miller, the Director of Education attended – he is battling a virus and really should be at home recovering – but he was in the room doing what he does very well – trying to get his message across with all the passion and energy that makes the man who he is.
Director of Education Stuart Miller listens – he truly wants to hear and to be understood as well.
He doesn’t appear to be hearing what the parents he serves are asking for.
As the evening wound down staff wanted to know how many people came to the meeting leaving the impression that the number of people who showed up was the sign that the meeting was a success.
How did the parents feel when they left the building? They certainly weren’t happy campers. There seems to be a divide between the thinking going on within the Board offices and what the public wants. Parents want the trustees they elected to stand up for them and the bulk of the trustees that were elected do not appear to be up to the job.
As voters, parents are already talking about the revenge they will take in October of 2018 when municipal elections take place.
The battle is for an educational system that prepares this young lady for what at best is an uncertain future.
The week will wind down with everyone heading into a Spring Break – will there be some reflection and the kind of thinking that pulls people together during that break or will positions harden and get rigid?
The social health of the city is what is at stake – it isn’t at all certain that the thinking coming out of the boardroom senior school board staff meet in is going to change very much.
The people being paid good salaries and fat benefits do not appear to be acting as civil servants – they have taken a position they believe in and are going to stick with it.
MP Members of Parliament are federal and not responsible for education. MPP Member of Provincial Parliament are provincial and responsible for education. Surely you can get it right as enough voters already don’t know the difference and it is important when you are protesting a government action.
Editor’s note:The reader is correct – in describing the provincial member of the legislature we left a P off – what appeared as MP, should have been MPP – that error has been corrected. Of the 2749 people who read the story this reader was the first to catch the error.
If the police officer wasn’t hired by the board and I think he probably was, it was inappropriate for an armed officer wearing a bulletproof vest to show up at a public meeting. Even his stance in this photo suggests he is monitoring things, not participating. I would be very surprised if police didn’t have a policy that they weren’t allowed to go to a public meeting like this when they were off duty.
Joan:
You might want to ask Chief Jennifer Evans of Peel Police why one of her officers is there in full gear. From the dress, he is either a member of their tactical (SWAT) unit or one of the officers stationed at the airport. Absolutely agree that this is very, very bad form. He’s absolutely not an officer hired by the Board. He probably bugged out on his break.
I didn’t realise that the Province was increasing funding. The trail of deceit and manipulation runs very deep… Appears that they need to fund Hydro, or in our case, it was a deal to get Hayden built…I wrote to Eleanor, suggest every does the same.
FYI she voted with her party. Or, more specifically, against Burlington. Seems very career limiting.
What is not being made clear is that the “big announcement” last year regarding the extra funding for ALL Ontario school boards is that it was dependant on school boards across the Province conducting reviews and closing schools with declining enrolment. You know,the time honoured Political shell game of giving with one hand while taking with the other. HDSB then morphed that criteria with how much it will supposedly cost to bring each High School in Burlington up to the required accessibility standards. So the extra funding over a two year period (bearing in mind that Provincial elections are in June next year) well, that’s the carrot isn’t it? – and the stick? Why use a stick at all when you can pit one school against another in any community and achieve the same effect. Too cynical for you? Take a look at Hamilton-Wentworth School Board and Hess Street School. The politicians at all levels seem to think they will come up smelling like roses when the dust has settled on this issue – I think they just stink.
This meeting was a circus! I showed up at 6:15 knowing that it would be packed and parking would be a challenge. The number of people attending was overwhelming. Board of Education personnel were woefully unprepared for the number of attendees, and had no clue how to meaningfully engage attendees. At the very least you would have thought someone from the Board would have taken the stage and said a few words to set the context for the meeting or give an introduction. It was truly pitiful! The only redeeming thing in the whole meeting was the Nelson mascot.
Four things are becoming painfully evident as this issue unravels. First, Board of Education officials haven’t a clue what they are doing, and our trustees have shown little or no leadership. Last night’s meeting was a fiasco. Again, kudos to Marianne Meed Ward for having the guts to go to Queen’s Park to try and exert some influence to stop these closures.
Second, there are a number of great programs and initiatives underway across all the high schools throughout Burlington. I heard about a number of great programs at Bateman, as well as Nelson. Many of these stand to be lost if any of these schools close.
Third, there have been enough doubts, questions and issues raised in this forum by writers such as Tom Muir and several others to raise serious doubts about the veracity of the numbers on which decisions around closure are based. Many questions remain unanswered. I have heard no original responses around re-purposing of facilities, or sharing of facilities, or other unique approaches to avoid closures. Again, the Board should be taking leadership on this and looking for alternatives other than closures.
Finally, where the hell is Eleanor McMahon?? What is her take on these closures? Is she on vacation or just missing in action? Maybe the Provincial Liberals should look at running Marianne in her place. It would likely be an improvement.
By the way great write-up on this meeting. You captured the essence really well. Thanks to the Gazette for their great coverage on an important issue.
The following was posted on Eleanor McMahon’s website last year:
Local News July 06, 2016
Ontario Investing $24 Million to Improve Schools in Halton Region
Province Making Historic School Infrastructure Investment
Ontario is investing an additional $24-million in Halton Region over the next two years to repair and renew schools for a total investment of $71-million to ensure that they continue to be safe and modern places for students to learn.
The funding will enable local schools boards to repair roofs, update HVAC units and modernize electrical and plumbing systems. It will also significantly improve more visible elements of schools that impact students’ learning and well-being, including flooring, walls, ceilings, playing fields and more.
The province is investing and additional $1.1 billion in school infrastructure across the province, which builds on $1.6 billion in existing funding that has been allocated for repairs and renewals over the next two school years, for a total of $2.7 billion.
This investment in school repair and renewal in Halton is part of the largest investment in public infrastructure in the province’s history — about $160 billion over 12 years, which is supporting 110,000 jobs every year across the province, with projects such as roads, bridges, transit systems, schools and hospitals.
Giving students the best possible learning environment is part of the government’s plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number one priority — growing the economy and creating jobs. The four-part plan includes investing in talent and skills, including helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest infrastructure investment in hospitals, schools, roads, bridges and transit in Ontario’s history and is investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. In addition, the plan is helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.
QUOTES
“Our government continues to support Burlington students with significant investments in better schools for better learning. This is an important investment for local student achievement and well-being, and a boost for our local economy.”
— Eleanor McMahon, MPP for Burlington
“Investing in our schools is one of the most important infrastructure investments we can make for nearly two million students in Ontario. Our government believes in better buildings for better learning and well-being. Making sure schools across the province are in a state of good repair is an essential part of supporting student achievement. The investment announced today is great news for students, educators, communities, and the economy.”
— Mitzie Hunter, Minister of Education
QUICK FACTS
This funding is being allocated to school boards in proportion to their renewal needs. Information about school board allocations will be available in the coming weeks. To support transparency in this historic investment, the province will publicly post detailed information regarding the condition and renewal needs of each of Ontario’s 4,900 public schools.
This funding represents an increase in funding for elementary and secondary school renewal of $500 million for the 2015-16 school year and $575 million for the 2016-17 school year.
This new funding addresses the Auditor General of Ontario’s recommendations in 2015 to increase investment in school renewal to 2.5 per cent of schools’ replacement value and to direct two-thirds of infrastructure investment in schools to renewal over new construction.
Since 2003, the province has invested more than $14 billion in school infrastructure, including nearly 760 new schools and more than 735 additions and renovations.
The province is providing school boards with more than $12 billion over 10 years to help build new schools in areas of high growth, improve the condition of existing schools and invest in projects to reduce surplus space through school consolidations.
I’ve read it twice. For anyone who cares to read it go to
https://eleanormcmahon.onmpp.ca/News/12606?rc=l&l=EN
The HDSB’s Program and Accommodation Review Burlington Secondary Schools – Director’s Preliminary Report was published October 5, 2016 – 3 months after the above announcement was made.
According to HDSB’s Facility Audit for Accessibility( published February 8, 2017) it would require $3,186,106 to bring Central High School up to the required standard – so where’s the $24 Million? It would only take a small portion of those millions to carry out the supposed improvements needed for ALL High Schools in Burlington. The money is promised to be invested in our High Schools “over the next two years” – so that would be 2016 – 2018? So why the rush to close any of our schools. Why not wait and repair them all?
What am I missing here?
Could The Hon Eleanor McMahon MPP Burlington, Mitzie Hunter, Minister of Education, Stuart Miller, Director of Education, HDSB, HDSB Trustees, anyone! provide some clarification?
Thank you for posting this. We need to look into this. Are they using this money for 4 or 5 schools instead of 6, after they close a couple???
Yes, someone needs to start asking some hard questions – where is the promised money? Promised in July 2016 – report from HDSB re: school closings published October 2016 – I find that odd. I think the Minister of Education, Eleanor McMahon, Stuart Miller and the trustees need to provide some answers. Big announcement; $24 million specifically ear-marked for Halton Schools; evens mentions the money is for fixing the actual buildings – “enable local schools boards to repair to repair roofs” – one of the big expenses (among other things) said to be needed to bring Central High School up to standard- new roof! – the total price tag was stated to be $3 million plus to bring it up to the standard requirements – the highest amount of any of the schools involved which is not surprising as it is also the oldest – although NOT at the bottom in terms of operating capacity – 2 schools performing lower than Central. Maybe it really is true what “they” always say – follow the money!
Just an FYI. That police officer was not on duty. He was a concerned parent. He couldn’t have been on duty since he was A Peel Regional Police Officer
Obviously, Eleanor McMahon does not represent her constituents and should relinquish her right to represent Burlington Liberals in the next election. There is no honour in following the party line of the most incompetent government in Ontario’s history.
“The people being paid good salaries and fat benefits do not appear to be acting as civil servants – they have taken a position they believe in and are going to stick with it.”
………………I think you meant to say – they have taken a position that they are told to take and are going to stick with it
That is what today’s civil servants do when they are being paid good salaries and fat benefits.