A number of schools in both the Bedford and Sackville area are under a Halifax Regional School Board boundary review, and parents against the proposed changes are not afraid to voice their opinions on the changes that will affect their kids.
About 200 parents attended a public meeting in Sackville to hear more about the criteria used by the boundary review committee — made up of school administration and parent volunteers — to come up with an interim boundary report. After the committee's presentation parents lined up one by one, some with reports of their own, to discuss their feelings on the proposed changes.
People wishing to share their concerns were given a three minute time limit and were asked to address the committee in a respectful manner. Although anger and frustration could be heard in their voices, the parents complied to the second reques,t but many had a difficult time getting all their points across in the allotted time. The heated crowd burst into applause many times while parents voiced their concerns on safety surrounding walking and busing issues, how transitioning would affect their children, inadequately equipped schools, overcrowding and how the proposed changes would affect the future of teachers and other school staff.
A meeting was held in Bedford back in January where parents had a chance to talk about changes there. After taking those concerns into consideration that boundary review committee presented the school board with a final report. Dana Carruthers was on that committee.
"All of our recommendations were approved," said Carruthers. "Now one of those recommendations — a very important one that affects the junior high schools — has been overturned and so we're back at it again."
For Sackville and Millwood, the fact that one of the recommendations in Bedford was overturned is a positive thing leading them to believe that the interim report for their schools may not be a done deal.
The boundary review committee interim report for Sackville recommends that the schools in the Millwood and Sackville family of schools be reconfigured as follows: the high schools accommodate Grades 9 through 12, the junior high schools accommodate Grades 6 through 8, Cavalier Drive and the elementary schools accommodate Grades P to 5, effective September 2014.
In Bedford boundary changes will affect Bedford South, Basinview Drive Community, Sunnyside Elementary, Kingswood Elementary, Hammonds Plains Consolidated Elementary and Bedford Junior High Schools.
The boundary review committee in Sackville said it will take all parent concerns and recommendations into consideration before making their final report to the HRSB.
For more information on the HRSB boundary reviews visit www.hrsb.ns.ca.
blhall@eastlink.ca
Mike, I believe that you are correct. Many school boards are moving to a P-8/9 structure across north america as it is more cost effective solution that has been proven time and time over again to increase academic performance (11-18%) and reduce bullying (23%). The Cavalier P-9 School in Sackville has students that do not transition at grade 6. This helps all of the children as it reduces anxiety, increases performance, and reduces bullying. The culture in the school is one of community and social support as they students and parents are engaged for a long period of time and develop a relationship with the school. (If the boundary changes happen some students will see 4 schools in 5 years; that is too much). The statistics for bullying between P-9 and other local 7-9 schools favors the P-9 model by a factor of 15. (You are 15 times more likely to be bullied in a 7-9 school). The community of Cavalier spoke very well about there interest in the school staying the way it is now. Their survey's show that 99% are in favor of P-9 with petitions of 400 signatures. It was built as a P-9 with Home-Ec, Ind Arts, elevator, and junior high facilities. The cost of moving the students to the LT and building a elevator is not a good use of $380,000 of our taxpayers dollars as the LT building is 1975 building and the Cavalier building is 1985 with those facilities, more land, and bigger Gym. The boundary review changes to Cavalier are against the mandate of the HRSB as they reduce effective learning, increase risk of bullying, and have not been proven to be cost effective. I expect the elected HRSB board to make consideration of the changes that the senior HRSB staff are pushing as trustees are required to make sound decisions. The review does not look sound as the many parents have pointed out. George