LDSB reps address disgruntled parents in Plevna

Sep 18, 2014

Over 60 members of the community filled the gym at Clarendon Central Public School in Plevna at a special meeting on September 15 that was called over a recent decision of the Limestone District School Board (LDSB).

Michelle Ross, co-chair of the parent council at CCPS, said the group called the meeting to voice their concerns about the LDSB’s decision to decrease the number of teachers at the school, effectively changing it from a three-classroom school to two classrooms.

Barb Fraser-Stiff and Andrie Labrie, both superintendents of education with the LDSB, were in attendance at the meeting and made efforts to explain the board’s decision.

Former principal at the school, Brenda Martin, began the meeting with a presentation citing her concerns that the decision will negatively impact the teachers’ ability to deliver the curriculum and said to the attendees, “You realize that this is the only school in North Frontenac Township, a school that has been here for 52 years and that your education dollars should remain in the township.” She argued for the viability of small local schools and commended the parents whose efforts kept Clarendon Central open after the LDSB’s Program and Accommodation Review Committee (PARC) proposed several years ago that the school be closed.

In a nut shell Martin requested that the primary teacher position be increased to full time to meet the needs of the students, and regarding the junior/intermediate students she said that their needs cannot be met by just one teacher alone. “For older students it is impossible for one teacher to cover the required topics in the curriculum even in a two-year cycle.”

Barbara Fraser-Stiff assured her that it is manageable for a single teacher to integrate the math and English curriculum, but Martin replied that her biggest concern is the science curriculum. “Yes you can integrate language and math but when it comes to science, it is impossible for one teacher to cover all of the necessary components required,” she said.

Parents had a chance to raise their many concerns, which included the added stress and challenges to teachers who will have to teach more curriculum with less classroom support to a wider age group. They said that there will be less one on one instruction time and more interruptions for all students. Many said they fear that their children will not receive a satisfactory education that will prepare them properly for high school. They also cited less time for support staff to do the regular supervising that is needed for such a wide age group.

Fraser-Stiff said that she understands that it sounds impossible but that the new changes can be done. “It's been done before.” Both she and Labrie gave as examples two schools in the LDSB, one on Wolfe Island and the other on Amherst Island that have two classrooms serving JK–grade eight students. The Amherst Island school has been operating for over a decade and Fraser-Stiff said that its graduates are thriving.

When questioned about the lack of discussion that came with the recent announcement, Labrie was apologetic but explained that the decisions typically happen in September once the finalized numbers of students are known. He said that similar changes have taken place at one third of the schools in the LDSB.

One concerned parent quoted the Spring 2014 Technical Paper put out every year by the Ministry of Education outlining the Supported Schools Allocation, which provides additional funding for teaching and ECE staff to improve the viability of supported schools. She said that by definition Clarendon Central is one such school and she wondered why staff are being cut when in the paper, it states that combined schools with 50 or more elementary students generate funding for a minimum of 7.5 elementary teachers. “Surely if you do the math, with 39 students here we should be able to support four teachers.”

North Frontenac Councilor Lonnie Watkins asked why the $1.6 million in education taxes collected in North Frontenac could not keep three teachers at the school. He also wondered why the $350,000 allocated to special rural schools could not afford to keep the current number of staff in place.

Labrie replied that 80% of the money pays the salaries for staff and the rest goes towards maintenance of the building, and busing. “You can see when you break it down how those funds can get used up pretty quickly.”

When pressed further, Labrie said he would check with other members of staff who know more about the particular financial numbers being questioned. Another parent wondered why local students in the area should be allowed to be bused to other schools if decreasing enrollment is the reason for the cuts in the first place.

Steve Magee, who is running as a candidate for school trustee in North and Central Frontenac and in Addington Highlands, suggested waiting one year to make the changes, thereby giving both parents staff and students time to adjust to the new situation.

By the end of the meeting, though Fraser-Stiff and Labrie could not make any concrete promises to parents and staff, they did promise to raise all of their concerns to their senior team and said they would get back to the group as soon as possible with any updates or changes. “We recognize that this community here is asking for some help and support in this matter and we will bring everything that we heard here today back to our staff.”

One parent said that the announcement of the changes has caused stress to staff, parents and students alike, with many parents feeling their children have already lost out during their first month back at school.

Parents and staff are obviously hoping that the situation is resolved quickly.

CCPS Principal Emily Yanch said she “appreciated the parent community organizing the meeting, and hearing their concerns being addressed by members of the board.”