Parents pack emotional meeting as board ponders west Ottawa school closures

It was an often emotional meeting in a packed assembly hall at Sir Robert Borden High School as parents lined up at microphones to make thecase to keep their schools open.

Parents expressed cynicism about the process, concern about the elimination of middle schools, and worry that theaccommodationsand programming forchildren withspecial needs will get lost in the shuffle.

Altogether, seven schools in west Ottawa have been recommended for closure by staff atthe Ottawa-Carleton District School Boardto address a growing enrolment problem.

Staff told parents Thursday nightthere are more than 3,800 vacant student spaces in the "western area review," and that their job was to eliminate more than 2,000 of them.

Parent Amanda Banford wants school to stay open

8 years ago

Duration 0:18

Parent Amanda Banford wants school to stay open.

1st of 2 public meetings

It was the first of two public hearings hosted by the OCDSB before a March 1voteon which schools will close bySeptember 2017.

The schoolsrecommended for closure by OCDSB staff in the western region include:

• D. Aubrey Moodie Intermediate School.
• Greenbank Middle School.
• Leslie Park Public School.
• Grant Alternative School.
• Century Public School.
• Regina Street Public School.
• J.H. Putman Public School.

The chair of the board, Shirley Seward, has told CBC Newsthe consultations could lead to changes to that list, but several parents told a panel of board staff they were skeptical.

"They have a giant binder with all these recommendations and it really seems like a done deal," said Amanda Banford, whosesix-year-old daughter attendsLeslie Park Public School.

It seems like a done deal ...I don't know if I have a chance.- Amanda Banford, parent

"I am going to fight my hardest to keep my daughter in a school where she belongs but I don't know that I have a chance,"she added, holding back tearsduring an interview outside the meeting room.

In defence of middle schools

A number of parents came out to defend against the closing of J.H. Putman Public School, one of four middle schools on the list.

The school is slightly over capacity at 103 per centand wouldhave to sendits students,whohave already graduated from elementary school, back down to elementary school.

Teacher Gail Soffer said elementary schools simply don't have the resources and programming the kids havealready been receiving at middle school, including art studios, labs and counselling services.

Soffer has been working in middle schools since 1979and at Putman since 2001.

'There's a personal loss'

"I had a gut reaction on a personal level," she said.

"There's a personal loss."

Soffer received applause following her emotional plea to board staff, explaining she worries about the overall move to shut down middle schools, which have been an important transition for teens, particularly boys, helping to improve graduation rates.

"I don't like how adolescents and their problems and the joys of teaching them are being pushed aside," she added in an interview outside the hall, tears welling up in her eyes.

Concerns for kids with special needs

Parents from a number of schools with programs for childrenwith special needs had concerns about program changes and relocations, including at schools not slated for closure.

"Well, Iwas crestfallen," said David Grimes about finding out his son's school, Carleton Heights Public School, would see its disability program moved to Bell High School.

Grimes'sson is developmentally delayed and has moved to a new school almost every year, following a special program. He's been thriving at Carleton Heights.

"I'm really concerned if we move him again," said Grimes, "so I'm not really comfortable with the way this is playing out."

The board will be having one more public hearing on Jan. 10.

There is also an online consultation where parents have been submitting their thoughts, as well as several meetings of an advisory committee made up of parents from the schools affected bythe review.