Dear Editor:
On Oct. 25, a single member of the Clearview School Division board made a motion regarding the (possible) closure of three schools: Donalda School, Byemoor School and Brownfield Community School.
Clearview teachers respect the rights of trustees to act on any issue within the powers granted to them under the School Act.
However, the (teachers’) local, school administrators and school communities had all been informed of a community consultation process agreed to by the Clearview board at its meeting last Aug. 30, as it was the first item discussed on the Clearview agenda.
Under this process, the board was to travel to the smaller-school communities, starting with Donalda and Byemoor, in order to discuss with the school communities enrolment trends, funding and their impact on school programs.
This process that the Clearview board committed to, recognized, with honour and respect, the important role parents play in making educational decisions for their children.
Clearview teachers have worked hard over the years to build a culture of trust and respect with our school board, and the school communities in which they serve.
As a result, we find it unfortunate that so many excellent teachers, support staff, students and parents in these three school communities have now had their future thrown into uncertainty.
Clearview Teachers’ Local 33 would ask the board to return to its earlier-agreed-upon process of community consultation with community stakeholder groups.
Corey van Zandbergen,
Byemoor
(President of Clearview Teachers’ Local 33)