Board challenged to find ways to save Stratton school

By Ken Johnston
Editor

About 40 people attended the third of four Accommodation Review Meetings for Our Lady of the Way School (OLWS) in Stratton last Wednesday evening.
There were four presentations delivered by members of the public and three letters of support read, all in favour of keeping the Catholic elementry school open in Stratton. All of them extolled the virtues of the school.
The schools enrolment has been steadily declining and only has 13 students at present. It has a capacity of 130 students and once a school dips below 50% capacity the school board has the option to conduct an Accommodation Review Process.
Northwest District Catholic School Board Superintendent of Business, Chris Howarth, said, “It is the administration’s job to bring this option forward to the board. We did present the idea about a year and a half ago when student numbers went below 50% but the board declined to do it at that time.”
However, this time around the board has opted to conduct the process. An Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) was struck and public meetings began in March.
At the first meeting Howarth informed the ARC if the school were to be closed the board would realize a savings of $138,244 per year.
At last Wednesday’s meeting former OLWS student, then teacher and eventually principal, David Sharp, challenged the board to find savings to help keep the school open. He pointed to a history book that he himself helped produce. “I am only guessing, but 2,000 colour books at a cost of $15 each is about $30,000. That money would go a long way to help keep our school open.”
Sharp also said other things like director of education wages, switching from colour copiers to black and white, would be other areas where savings could be realized.
“I challenge the board to right a wrong and give our school another chance,” said Sharp. “Brendan Hyatt has been hired to take on the challenge (this fall as OLWS principal), but he needs to have a team to help him.”
Sharp said the school needs a minimum of two teachers to teach and also support Hyatt. He also suggested that portfolios assigned to Hyatt be delegated to others so that Hyatt can dedicate himself fully to rebuilding the school. “With the right resources I think he can do it!”
Sharp also questioned how much the board understands how much the school means to the community and the area. “Where are the trustees in this process? How will we know what happens here at these meetings will get back to the board? It is easy to make a decision when one is not here to see and hear the cries (of us).”
A comparison of similar sized schools was also brought forward by Sharp. He noted that McCrosson-Tovell School and Nestor Falls Schools both have very low student populations and, “The public board has seen fit to keep them open.”
Dennis Olinyk of the Knights of Columbus also made a presentation filled with challenges for the ARC and board. “We call on the trustees to work out a solution to keep OLWS open using an honest and truthful dialogue.”
He also asked several questions such as:
Why is the school in the situation it is? What is the root of the problem? Why did the enrolment decline? What were the concerns of the parents last spring at two meetings held with the school council? What has been done to rectify them? Are there outside influences on the schools crisis? Where do we go from here?
ARC Chair Anthony Leek, himself a former student of the school, read a response from the board to Mr. Olinyk’s concerns. It said that the board hopes the ARC process will bring forward a solid picture of the value of the school to the students and suggestions on how the school can improve and regain vitality.
The letter from the board noted that they did address concerns from parents last spring. A strategic plan was developed. All the parents at the meetings in the spring were invited to participate in the process.
Current principal Darlene Fejos-Rousseau said only four agreed to take part. And recommendations from that plan were implemented this past school year.
The board’s letter said there is no hidden agenda with the ARC.
Leek said that once the final meeting of ARC is held on June 26, 2013, the ARC will take all the information it has gathered and make a recommendation to the board who will then ultimately decide the future of the school.
Other presenters included current teacher Lisa Latimer and former student and now Fort Frances pharmacy owner/operator Kevin Nielson.
Nielson credited the school for giving him a solid foundation to get where he is now. “This school used to provide a world class education. I wonder what course my life would have taken without what I learned here.”
Latimer spoke of all the opportunities the kids benefit from at the school and how closing it would have a big impact on the community, both economically and socially.
Letters of support were also read from Dianne Vandenbrand of the Stratton Catholic Women’s League, Rachel Marquis of the RR CWL and former student and now teacher Stephanie Archangelo.
The next and final meeting was moved from June 19th to the 26th as the first date conflicted with RRHS graduation.