MP advocates for schools

by Alex Atamanenko on 17 Feb 2011
in
MP advocates for schools

Honourable Margaret MacDiarmid 

Dear Minister MacDiarmid,
 
As you are no doubt aware, there is a discussion in School District #20 about the possible closure of Rossland Secondary and Blueberry Community School.
 
This is taking place as a result of some very difficult budget considerations that School District #20 is facing. It is imperative that our provincial government explore new and creative ways of arriving at funding formulas, especially concerning our rural schools.
 
There needs to be a service review of urban/rural funding for schools.
 
You can imagine the hardship small rural communities face when confronted with the possibility of school closures. This often results in families moving away and others choosing not to settle in a community because of a lack of educational opportunities for their children.
 
Our communities of Trail, Rossland and Castlegar are endeavouring to do what is best for their citizens. As one elected official mentioned to me, “we cannot afford to have arguments and strife”.
 
Minister, I used to teach at Stanley Humphries in Castlegar and am very familiar with the excellent educational opportunities it offers its students. I have visited the new state-of-the-art high school in Trail and was very impressed by what I saw. In addition, I have personally experienced the creative energy and variety of programs that Blueberry Community School offers. It has also been by pleasure to have had the opportunity to visit Rossland Secondary and to talk to the administration about the variety of programs it offers such as the Ski Academy, Chefs’ training and band programme.
 
The Rossland Neighbourhood and Learning Committee has put together a proposal to School District #20 for a Neighbourhood Learning Centre. According to the report, this idea is modelled on what is currently happening in School District #51, #27 and others. The idea of maintaining K-12 education in Rossland and trying this with the concept of a Neighbourhood Learning Centre is an exciting concept.
 
We have the possibility in our school district to look at the strengths of each school and to emphasize these strengths. Everyone benefits from this approach. What is needed is some flexibility on the part of our provincial government to ensure that our small rural communities remain vibrant, innovative and viable places to live. A re-working of the current funding formula would be a major step in this direction.
 
Sincerely,
 
Original Signed
 
 
Alex Atamanenko, MP
BC Southern Interior
 
c.c.       Mr. Gordon Smith, Chair-School District #20
            Mayor Greg Granstrom, Rossland
            Mayor Dieter Boggs, Trail
            Mayor Lawrence Chernoff, Castlegar
            Katrine Conroy, MLA
            All media

Comments

Sad

by JulioS on 26 May 2011 at about 07:05.
It really saddens me to hear of schools or hospitals closing, these are things we should really fight not only to maintain open but to build new ones. With rural areas not having schools, kids will leave to boarding schools at ages when they are not ready.. leaving for college is one thing, but secondary school - that is too soon for some. Even at college time some prefer online studying, like Northwestern College online or something like that.

It's Monday morning

by RCalderon on 21 Feb 2011 at about 10:35.
Good morning Mickey, In case you haven't noticed, the West Wind blows only when someone writes a letter or editorial that is meant to sway people's opinions, ie propaganda. I give the piece my perspective. It's called free speech. It's a healthy way to see a problem from various perspectives, not just yours or Alex's (one in the same I think). So, you can continue to call me names or you can rebut my statements or at least answer my questions. Please note that I am not paid by anyone or any organization to give my opinion. I don't work for or get a stipend from School District 20. Nor do I collect any benefit from Black Press or any level of government. I am a taxpayer and wish to see value for my taxes. I don't wish to see good money thrown after bad. Mickey, if you built a new house for $500,000 five years ago, would you sell it today for less than half and put the money into an older house that requires expensive renovations? Not unless you're nuts. Right? So why would you promote selling a new, efficient asset for an old one that requires expensive renovations? Why would this be good use of taxpayer money? - r

Do not close schools, open minds

by MVKinakin on 18 Feb 2011 at about 09:10.
I was very pleased to read Alex Atamanenko’s letter in the Castlegar Source. Alex correctly identifies the need for the Ministry of Education to create a funding formula and community use directive to meet the educational and the community school usage needs in small B.C. communities. Instead of our local communities fighting with one another for the dwindling financial and physical resources in our schools, cities and regional districts, we should be banding together to advocate for fairer resources and practicing the best use of the resources that are left in our communities. It should go without saying that government funding formulas need to be reviewed from time to time by the Ministry. The Board of Education of our school district is constantly advocating to the Ministry of Education the need for further and fairer allocation of funds for our schools. A popular concept these days is multi-tasking. Another concept we should adopt with equal vigor is multi-usage. The resources of schools cities, regional districts, government agencies and government funded activities should be utilized as common capacity-building resources. An excellent example of this multi-usage resource concept is the growing interrelationship between James L Webster Elementary and the Village of Warfield. The school and the Village have partnered to establish an early childcare centre and an art facility. The school gets the contact with parents of young children and more effective usage of space and the community gets needed community services and resources. The James L. Webster and Village of Warfield projects should be the example for further resource-sharing between the levels of our local governments. These projects were achieved with small financial investments by the school district and the Village. Their value is a large addition to the life of the school and the Village community. In today’s world we should not be advocating to the provincial government why we should share local government resources– we should be explaining why we are not! As a school trustee my sympathies have always been with keeping schools open. Along with this general belief, I appreciated the creative efforts of the school and the Village to create new ways of keeping their school as a vibrant and connected part of their community. The Webster/Warfield community capacity-building effort shows – maybe it is time to stop closing schools and start opening our minds! Through your comments, thanks Alex, for making us think in different ways about the issues facing us and our communities.

Mickey's religious conversion

by RCalderon on 18 Feb 2011 at about 14:46.
On the way to Damascus, Mickey had a religious conversion. Mickey, you've been a school trustee for 18 to 20 years. Let's see. How many schools have been closed in the south end of the school district? Blueberry Creek Elementary Cooke Avenue Central School Elementary Sunningdale Elementary Laura J Morrish Elementary Montrose Elementary Fruitvale Middle Trail Middle Did you not support the closure of Webster and Glenmerry Elementary in the Board's study of PFF 1? Did you not vote against supporting funding for Webster's Neighbourhood of Learning idea. - r

Rose of Damascus

by MVKinakin on 19 Feb 2011 at about 10:52.
Rose, I know that fact is a four letter, word but we should attempt to give the word some respect. Your response is filled with several comments that I would call not facts but factoids. Factoids are incomplete statements presented not to inform, but to further the writer’s slant on a subject. Example; was Laura J Morrish Elementary closed – yes—but not exactly. Laura J. Morrish Elementary was rebuilt as Trail Middle School. This school is still on the school district’s books and, by the way, is the most expensive cost per student facility in the district. How about Blueberry Creek Elementary; was it closed—yes—but not exactly. Blueberry Creek Elementary was designated as a community school and it is still on the books as a school district facility. Blueberry Creek Community School continues to admirably serves the needs of children in our school district If it is really closed, then why is it in the PFF document named for closure and its programs slated to be dispersed somewhere throughout the district. On a moot point, when did Blueberry Creek Elementary become a “south end” school. It was part of the former Castlegar School District, not the Trail School District. Factoid, after factoid, after factoid, etc, etc, etc…. Did I support the closure of James L. Webster Elementary, I will only speak for myself – I categorically did not. I did not support its closure some 6 years ago and I did not see why it should be closed last year. The last time I check, the closure of Webster Elementary is not on the list of possible closures to be considered in the current PFF document. As far as supporting new initiatives at Webster Elementary, I put forward in motion the support of daycare in the school and the recent art initiative between the school and the Village of Warfield..I am the appointed school board representative to Webster Elementary and, as usual, I take that appointment very seriously. If school closures create great financial savings, then our school district should be “rolling in dough”. I have not yet heard the Minister of Education asking our school district for a loan to run her Ministry. The money that is saved from school closure is a momentary blip in the finances of the district. This blip quickly subsides in the numerous needs of the district. As trustees, we have to weigh the financial benefit gained from school closure versus the reduction of possible educational and social benefits for our students and their communities. I can say from experience - that is never an easy decision. Yes, the road to Damascus is long and trying. I do advocate the trip. I respectfully recommend it to you. If on the trip you could be stilled, would listen, and want to watch – you too might find some light shining upon your journey. Happy Trails!

Dec 13 board meeting

by RCalderon on 19 Feb 2011 at about 20:38.
Superintendent stated clearly that "nothing was off the table". This was in response to a question on the floor regarding PFF 1. That is still active, yes? In that document, it was proposed that Webster and Glenmerry be closed and amalgamated in the now TMS. That scenario is still on the books until I hear unequivocally that a majority of the Board have ruled it out as a possible scenario. I was at the meeting that went back and forth many times on funding Glenmerry playground equipment and Webster's daycare funding. Other trustees can perhaps shed light on this. Whether TMS was built on Morrish grounds doesn't take away from the fact that Morrish Elementary was closed. Other schools that were closed were Kinnaird Middle and Tarry's Elementary. Blueberry is run by a not for profit society, not the school district, regardless of how great the programs are. TMS houses several programs, including an alternative school run by the school district. Until you find a place for these students, TMS serves no less a valuable purpose than Blueberry. My point was that for someone who advocates keeping schools open, many were closed during your tenure. BTW, I like Damascus (or Damask) roses for their fine fragrance. :) - r

The west wind

by MVKinakin on 20 Feb 2011 at about 12:43.
Ah Rose, As the west wind, you are never ending. It is progress, though, to hear that you have come to see that Trail Middle School and Blueberry Creek Community School are still running programs and are still owned by School District 20. I sincerely hope you and I do not have to again discuss whether they are closed or not. You give the reader another smorgasborg of juicy factoids. Did such and such happen - yes - but....etc., etc.,.... Your second to last sentence is a classical example of the factoid techique. Was I a trustee when all these named facilities were supposedly closed yes--but - does that mean I made the motion to possibly close them, voted to close them, did some action to lessen the effect of their closure, or even vote to keep them open. Rose, let's try this technique on you: How about we try this exercise in logic. "Since ROSE CALDERON was born, there were many SUSPICIOUS DEATHS in Canada. Hmmmmm. Doesn't that make YOUR NEXT" comment after reading this logically----HMMMMM.... Anyway Rose, I think it is time to give the readers a break. I believe we have worn this topic to its thread bare end. Have a good weekend, I look forward to the future exchange of stimulating dialogue with you.

Good grief Mickey

by RCalderon on 20 Feb 2011 at about 23:18.
Equating my name with death is a bit over the top, don't you think? Indeed, have a good weekend. - r

Where was MP and/or MLA?

by RCalderon on 17 Feb 2011 at about 17:09.
Where were they when Trail schools were being closed? Or, more recently when it was proposed that Webster Elementary in Warfield & Glenmerry Elementary in Trail be closed. Those closures are still on SD 20's website. Yet, not a peep from Alex on these schools. Why is the federal MP advocating for only 2 local schools? Isn't that a provincial responsibility to begin with? Is the federal MP fully aware of the issues or is he just responding to the wishes of a local lobby group? Just wondering. - r