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8- The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday February 16, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com School closure debate causes rift in southeast Oakville By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The future of six schools in southeast Oakville has polarized the community, pitting neighbourhoods against one another as each fights for its personal interests. To say the issue of possible school closures in Ward 3 has sparked debate would be an understatement. A parent-driven website has been created, a new committee has been formed "to fight for the community," as one parent put it, and letters have been written to Premier Dalton McGuinty, to Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne, to Halton District School Board representatives and to The Oakville Beaver, to name a few. Much of the criticism is directed at the Halton District School Board and its PARC14 Committee, which is charged with making recommendations about the future of southeast Oakville's schools. The letters take aim at the school board and the PARC14 Committee's process, complain of an unfair balance of community members on that committee in favour of Clearview, and cite a lack of listening to the community or allowing its involvement. Still others complain of a promise of a school in the Clearview area, or advocate that certain schools remain open. Halton District School Board Superintendent of Education Dane Tutton calls the fiery debate "a positive thing." "This is a sign that people are very involved, and they care very deeply about what happens to their schools," he said. "It's certainly not a surprise when we start talking about the possibilities." When it comes to the future of Linbrook, Maple Grove, E.J. James, New Central, Brantwood and Chisholm public schools, more than 10 scenarios are still on the table. The PARC14 Committee will make its recommendation to the school board based on the scenario it determines is best. In the end, though, trustees will determine the future of public education in southeast Oakville. Tutton says implementation will be in place no later than Sept. 2009. Scenarios currently on the table include one that would see a school built in Clearview at the expense of Brantwood, New Central and Chisholm, or at the expense of Brantwood, New Central and Linbrook. In another two scenarios, Brantwood would close in both and New Central in one, while other schools would be renovated. Representatives of the Clearview area, DEREK WOOLLAM / OAKVILLE BEAVER LAST LEGS: Brantwood School is the most likely school to be closed in southeast Oakville. who long ago were promised a school to hold what may be its final meeting before it serve their community, sent a document to puts recommendations to the school board. The Oakville Beaver outTutton says even after "The committee tried to lining their position and the report is delivered, reasons why that prom- divest themselves from school "there is an opportunity or partisan beliefs, and tried ise should be fulfilled. for the public to delegate The document states to look into the future. The the board." those responsible for question they based their "The board will set writing it wish to remain aside time during the process on was what will be anonymous. meeting to hear public "It appears that blame the best solution in the future delegations, either pro or for any closures must fall for education of our students against any parts of the somewhere. Clearview in southeast Oakville." PARC14 report, so there's has become the area they always an opportunity to choose to lay the blame Dane Tutton, have input into the on," it reads. "The chil- Halton District School process," he said. dren are now experienc- Board Superintendent But the lack of public ing the blame for cloinput is one of the oversures and we do not want whelming criticisms to add to the atmosphere." coming from parents ­ no matter what On Tuesday, the PARC14 Committee will school their kids go to. By the numbers The current situation in southeast Oakville according to numbers posted on the Halton District School Board website: School Linbrook Brantwood Chisholm Maple Grove New Central E.J. James Current number of students 365 122 285 329 96 501 Capacity 236 227 230 302 161 377 Students bussed from Clearview 73 0 145 91 0 168 Mark Caskenette, whose daughter attends Linbrook, is the creator of www.myoakville.org. There, parents have posted concerns about the future of southeast Oakville. The site has attracted more than 1,000 unique visitors by his count. Caskenette is among many who voices concerns with the process the board and PARC14 have gone through to make their determinations ­ he even commissioned Statistics Canada to do a study on schools in Ward 3 to show the growth of school-aged population in each area, which is available on his site. "The process is flawed and broken," he said, citing a lack of transparency and option for public input. "Let's go back and fix it." Hilary Freyberg, whose daughter attends Linbrook, says it doesn't appear the wishes of those in the community are under consideration. "We're really discouraged. It seems that with even all the comments parents put into the Halton District School Board website, they really haven't been taken into consideration," she said. "I just don't think we're being heard. Or maybe we are being heard, but not listened to." Added Chris Bourque, whose kids go to Brantwood, which is almost certain to see closure, "They opened up a website and left 48 hours for people to make comments. At the meeting on Tuesday night, they never once even mentioned one comment or one iota of anything that was put on the website, which would indicate it was just politics to put it out there, that they really aren't reviewing it or assessing it. I found that very disappointing. "I do know the solutions they've presented, and they don't make anybody happy, to be perfectly honest." This process to determine recommendations for southeast Oakville's public schools has been going on since May. Chair of the PARC meetings Gerry Ockenden, a Halton Hills trustee, says the end is in sight. "It's long and it's tedious at times, but I'm happy with the way we're progressing," he said. Ockenden says he isn't surprised with the amount of emotion among parents. "People are emotional. It's their community, you have to respect that." At the committee meeting Tuesday, Feb. 19 ­ which is open to the public for observation, but not for participation ­ Ockenden says they'll look at the remaining scenarios See xxx page 12 Vision ­ To be the most livable town in Canada AT T E N D O A K V I L L E C O N S E RV E S E N E R G Y FA I R ! F Saturday, February 23, 10 a.m. ­ 2 p.m. Oakville Town Hall - South Atrium, 1225 Trafalgar Road Visit a number of exhibitors to find out how to conserve energy at home and on the road. Learn about new energy saving technologies as well as alternative energy sources. Join us for a one hour workshop with an Energuide for House's Home auditor, for tips and advice on how to make your home more energy efficient. There will be two sessions 10:30 a.m. ­ 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. ­ 2:00 p.m. Sign up for Earth Hour! Register your family, organization, school or business and take action on climate change. Turn off your lights on March 29 at 8 p.m. and help reduce Oakville's energy consumption. At the door receive a brand new CFL light bulb for FREE! Union Gas will be handing out FREE Energy Saving Kits! Win an energy efficient prize! Child minding program available for preschool and school age children ages 3+. Supported by the Ontario Ministry of Energy