OPINION: Catholic board concerns about centre misplaced

The Halton Catholic School Board and its supporters need not worry that joining Halton Region, police and the public school board in operating out of one regional `supercentre' will threaten its autonomy. Catholic education, principles and faith are taught and celebrated primarily in the board's numerous schools and churches throughout the region and at home-- not at its administration centre. A shared facility would only boost the Roman Catholic education system as the costs saved by the venture could put more resources where they count the most-- in the classrooms. Some Catholic school board trustees have expressed concern that moving into a proposed joint campus might conflict with, and perhaps even erode, the board's identity, Catholicity and more. We can't envision a scenario where the act of sharing an administrative building would significantly compromise the Catholic board's ability to retain its identity. It's estimated the campus would cost approximately $127 million, but would result in an overall savings of more than $20 million compared to each organization pursuing separate projects. Fear of the partnership triggering the downfall of Catholic education doesn't make sense to us. However, supporting it could make a lot of `cents' for each of Halton's cashstrapped school boards.