Poor public turnout at first ARC meeting: $138,244 could be saved if school closes

By Ken Johnston
Editor

The first public meeting to decide the future of Our Lady of the Way School (OLWS) in Stratton was held last Wednesday in the school’s gymnasium.
Turn-out was light. Only nine people, other than the committee members, attended. Of those one was a former principal, three current staff members, a former OLWS teacher, the chair of the Northwest Catholic District School Board (NCDSB) and the former reeve of Stratton (Morley Township), the RR Record’s editor and one other man.
After opening with a prayer, and discussion of the role of the Accommodation Review Committee, (ARC) the committee asked NCDSB Superintendent of Business Chris Howarth to present some facts and figures on the school.
With enrolment at 13-14 students this year, Howarth noted in his presentation that, “Schools with less than 50 pupils receive funding for a half-time Principal.” With that in mind he presented figures using a .4 principal in the formula.
He said that the savings from closing OLWS would be $138,244 per year. This was broken down as follows:
Expenditure reductions:
Salaries and benefits $460,730
Instructional supplies $38,700
Facility costs $146,100
Total Expenditure reduction would be $645,530
However the board would also lose revenues it currently receives. It would lose provincial grants for student needs in the amount of $406,779 and tuition fees received from local First Nations in the amount of $100,507. Total revenue reduction would be $507,286 for a loss of $138,244.
Howarth said, “I am using the closing scenario to show what the costs are of operating the school. This is not necessarily what could happen (to the school). Part of the ARC process is also to look at the effect on the students.”
He also explained that the board is operating at a budget deficit this year. “Part of that is we budgeted for 38 students this year and now only have 14. There were 52 kids last year.”
Since no delegations had put in written requests to do a presentation at the meeting last Wednesday, ARC Chair Anthony Leek polled the committee to see if they would allow members of the public present to address the committee.
Former OLWS Principal David Sharp pointed out to the committee that many residents in the area likely do not have access to the Terms of Reference for the ARC process. “I would say more than half of the residents that live here do not have computers or access to good internet and have not been able to read them.”
Howarth said, “The internet is the way people do things now.”
“I do not think the board should hide behind that,” said Sharp.
Howarth said he would send some hard copies of the Terms to OLWS for people to access.
Sharp and former OLWS teacher Mary Curtis both pointed out to the committee that there were two meetings last spring at the school about things that could be done improve the school.
NCDSB Director of Education Mary-Catherine Kelly said the meetings in June were Parent Council meetings. “They were well attended with a handful of people speaking. They offered ways to improve the school and the Principal made efforts this year to implement them and convince students/parents to stay.”
Curtis addressed the committee and said, “The board needs to be responsible. When the enrolment began dropping the board continued to let it bleed until it was too late. I will be making a presentation to this committee at the next meeting.”
Sharp said the committee needs to go back to the minutes of the June meetings for solutions. He also pointed to the future. “Perhaps we could work with Sturgeon Creek School (in Barwick) to have a half public half Catholic school.” Sharp is concerned that with the proposed mine north of both Stratton and Barwick coming, that if both the Stratton and Barwick schools close, miners and their families will not want to live in the said communities. “The board also has an obligation to provide an opportunity for Catholic kids to go to a Catholic school.”
Kelly said, “I do not know if there were formal minutes taken at the June meetings. I will have to look at what notes were taken.”
ARC Chair Leek encouraged the public to give written notice at least seven days before the next meeting if they wish to present to the committee. The next public meeting will be held on April 23, 2013, at 6 p.m. at OLWS.
Leek did note that money is not the only issue and echoed Howarth’s comments about looking at the impact a decision to close would have on students as well.
After the meeting Curtis would not comment on what transpired at the June meetings. She did echo her comments from during the meeting, “It is like a bully kicking someone when they are down. The bully keeps on kicking and kicking until there is nothing left.”