McGuinty government calls for
moratorium on school closures
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TORONTO, Dec. 12 /CNW/ - In keeping with the McGuinty government's
commitment to deliver
positive change, Education Minister Gerard Kennedy today called on all
Ontario school boards to place a moratorium on school closures until after
September 2004.
"Our goal is to ensure
Ontario students get the best schools and the best
education possible.
That's why we're going to take the time to review and
revise provincial
guidelines to help Boards make the best possible school
closure and building
planning decisions," says Kennedy. "We believe our goal of
making public education the best education and improving student
performance can best be
met if we treat our schools as learning communities, rather than just
bricks and mortar."
Kennedy notes that in some cases
boards may choose to proceed with
closures where there is
widespread consensus within the school community, for example where a new
replacement school is being built.
Under provincial legislation,
the decision to close schools is made by
local school boards.
However, boards are required to have school-closure
policies based on
provincial guidelines, and these are in the process of being revised by
the new government. In addition, many of the provincial funding policies
that influence board decisions on the viability of schools under their
control will be reviewed.
A letter from Kennedy, delivered
to all Ontario school boards today,
indicates that in future,
boards will be asked specifically to assess the
education and community
value of the schools being considered for closure,
with special
consideration for rural schools.
"Because of the current
funding formula, short-term financial
considerations have
played too large a role in decisions to close schools. In
fact, some of the most
successful schools in the province in terms of literacy
and numeracy testing
results have closed," says Kennedy. "The decision to shut down
any school should only be part of a long range plan that takes into
account the improvements
that the McGuinty government plans to make to Ontario public education to
the benefit of all students."
The McGuinty Government has
committed to making Ontario's public
education the best
education and to improving outcomes for students in
literacy and numeracy.
Within four years 75 per cent of students will meet or
exceed the provincial
standard on province wide tests.
