Ontario’s Education Minister was in Meaford on Friday announcing big money for a brand new school, but in nearby Owen Sound residents are unhappy with recent school closures.
At a news conference, Liz Sandals announced the province will invest $24 million for a new J.K. to Grade 12 school. The new facility will replace three other schools, where enrolment has been declining.
“We are now going to have a new awesome school,” says Meaford Mayor Barb Clumpus. “We are looking forward to the process.”
While the community of Meaford relishes the idea of a brand new school, residents and students in Owen Sound are battling to save the schools they have.
The Blue Water District School Board recently decided to amalgamate the city's two high schools into one existing building. They also decided to convert the other one into a "mega-elementary school," which will replace two elementary schools with lower enrolment.
Some say it's simply too much change, too quickly.
“The change the school board wants to make is too drastic, but also the timeline they gave us. No time to comprehend the change,” says Styn Furness, an alumni of Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute.
Students believe the accommodation review process, which was used to make these decisions, is flawed because it no longer gives people enough time to weigh in.
“We had eight days from when we got the information and to respond to it. On paper that's public input, but to us that's not very much,” Mitch Hendry of OSCVI’s student council.
Residents, along with some of the school’s alumni plan to travel to Queen’s Park on Monday to deliver a petition.
