On October 10th, the KPRDSB hosted another Accommodation Planning meeting, this time at Millbrook South Cavan Public School.
It was intended to operate in an Open House style like the original one held at Kenner in April. Two rooms were staffed with approximately 24 board representatives equipped to answer questions about the unpopular accommodation plans for Cavan Monaghan students. Roughly 120 members of the public came to get a better understanding of the two recommendations that remain on the table and express their concerns about those options.
After about twenty minutes, the Open House concept disintegrated as parents gathered around Superintendent Rita Russo, seeking answers from the top. As the Superintendent’s responses could no longer be heard, she was handed a microphone. Other conversations subsided, leaving the focus squarely on Ms. Russo who has ready to respond.
The Superintendent described her role as the CEO of the Board, and addressed questions directly, even as tension and emotions flared. Later in the discussion, Russo acknowledged that while she was the Board CEO, as in the private sector it is Board members who make the ultimate decisions. In December, the Board of Trustees will decide how the enrolment imbalances will be resolved.
The main complaint centered around what was viewed as a complete disregard for parent feedback, even as their concerns tied directly to guiding principles outlined by the school board. It was noted that the Cavan Monaghan community had provided more than 40% of all feedback regarding the original four concepts under consideration, but the remaining options seemed to ignore the community’s concerns.
The Superintendent indicated that in their deliberations about the accommodation options, staff had complied with a request that students from Cavan Monaghan be kept together. Many of the questions that evening seemed to indicate a shift in attitude among parents of North Cavan students, who seemed prepared to separate their students from those at Millbrook if it meant that North Cavan students could remain at Crestwood.
Among the more heated exchanges centred on community support for Crestwood. One parent insisted that activities organized by Maple Leaf Cavan Football Club (MLCFC) funded Crestwood’s Edge Program, specifically referencing a golf tournament. Superintendent refuted this claim, but was unable to clarify the financial relationship between the soccer club and the school.
Discussions with long time MLCFC board member Angela Penello explained that the club hosts a soccer camp at Crestwood during the summer, and the profits from those camps, along with those from a golf tournament the club hosts, are donated to the Crestwood Alumnae Association. These funds contribute to field trips, equipment and other expenses that are often for athletic activities but are not limited to student activities in the EDGE program.
Later in the event, some parents described an alternative to those on the table which shifted feeder schools proposed to move to Kenner from North Cavan and MSC to others already in the City of Peterborough. Keeping City students in city schools and township of Cavan Monaghan students in schools inside their township. North Cavan parent Emily Convery commented that this alternative had been previously suggested to the board months ago but this option had never been addressed. Persistent pressure from parents about the lack of response to this proposal ended with a request by Emily Convery to ensure the proposal received serious consideration, asking for a formal response outlining how it might be implemented or why it was not considered viable.
As the meeting drew to an end, Nick Wittek, a vocal critic of the board recommendations, was invited to explore this proposal in a private meeting with the Superintendent last week. The results of this meeting have not been disclosed.
The next Accommodation planning meeting is referred to as a Resource meeting and is scheduled for November 6th at 7 pm. It can be viewed live through a link on the KPRDSB website www.kprdsb.ca/our-board/board-and-committee-meetings/ but unfortunately video of the event is not available for viewing after the event. The final decision is scheduled to be made at the December 10th Board meeting. KG