PRESS RELEASE – JAN JOHNSTONE
QUEEN’S PARK –
I am
Like many other
progressively minded English and French speaking trustees who have joined with
the One School System Network, I am advocating for one publicly funded secular
school board system in the
My Board unanimously supports
a one school system of governance.
Over recent years, there has been a growing concern amongst many
Boards in the province over the division of resources in education. Currently in
In direct relation to this public funding of these four
systems, the United Nations Human Rights Committee has twice censured
In an effort to maximize resources, for example, Bluewater District
School Board and Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board share many successful
partnerships. This includes:
We are the poster child for co-board partnerships! But it is not enough.
These partnerships are limited in their ability to address
other issues that are currently affecting most school boards. Partnerships do not address province wide declining
enrolment issues in the boards’ shared geographical areas – nor – do they
capitalize on cost efficiencies that are available but underused amongst boards.
Recently, our school board had to make – again – difficult cuts to administration, plant operation, secondary and elementary staffing, and to French immersion in our budget. Children with special education needs have been hit really hard with the cuts in elementary resource teacher staffing. The cut back in provincial funding for special education and declining enrolment grants have pushed the board to cut back on many valuable programs. With a deficit of 3.2 million dollars, we are cutting back by over 5 million dollars. In a small rural board, this is unbelievable!
Our Catholic school partners are also in declining enrolment.
Yet they are not in deficit nor are they cutting back programs or closing
schools. In fact, they are going be building new additions on a couple of
schools. Recently they received 1 million dollars in grants for programs. This
is on top of their allocated funding from the Ministry of Education. This is
not equitable or fair!
If, however, these two English school boards were amalgamated, not only would we reduce capacity of 5,500 student surplus spaces, related to too many partially filled schools, redundant administration and services, we would have an annual savings of 3.3 million dollars. That’s right – 3.3 million dollars. Plus, we would be able to eliminate 2 superintendent positions at 350,000 annually.
We could reinvest this money into student programs, capital
repairs and maintenance. We would be able to provide better student supervision,
more and better specialized programs, and eliminate many of the fees associated
for some programs and for extra curricular activities. In fact, we could
rebuild that school in Kincardine, one that is so desperately needed and
wanted. And an ecoschool, one that is environmentally friendly.
If these are the costs savings in amalgamating these two
boards who share the same geographical area, can you imagine the cost savings
across the province? Imagine what we really could do in public
education if all those dollars went into student programs, services, and
classrooms! There is only one education funding
pie – it is all how you cut it. This makes
economic sense to me. We don’t need more money in education; we need a one
school system of governance.
I am the local elected political voice for the needs of
children of all faiths in our community and for public education. Schools are social hubs of our communities. Parents
and the community are very generous with their time, donations and fundraising activities.
But all their hard work does not change the bottom line.
I see red when I see inequity of funding across the 4 boards
of education. I also see too much red ink – a huge waste of money and resources
to the inefficiencies of propping up 4 publicly funded educational systems.
Enough is enough. Holding up all this redundant infrastructure and
administrative service is a misuse of our tax dollars.
As one parent recently said to me: “I am
unsure why there is such a resistance to slaughtering this sacred cow.
I am sick of fundraising for every little log and swing seat - let alone an
entire new piece of playground equipment!”
Indeed, let’s literally share the same grass and become one
publicly funded secular school system!
The intent of supporting the one school system is to
maximize resources in the delivery of
I say to all progressively minded public school trustees in all four systems, if not us - then who? Who will stand up and speak out for a one publicly funded secular school system?
And if not now, when? This is an election year. It deserves to be raised as an important election issue.
The public needs to know there is a lot better alternative to – on the one hand – the status quo that is inequitable, inefficient, discriminatory. And – on the other hand – the way to costly election promise, “fund all religious schools publicly.” Not only is this divisive, but building more silos of separation will splinter and fracture our public education system even more.
Whereas – good public education policy – one school system: builds community – a better society.
As Howard Pawley – the Acting Director for the Centre for
Studies in Social Justice at the
Bluewater Board of Education
519-396-1467
jangord@bmts.com