Heatherton students show their support for keeping the school open at a community meeting held at Rev. H. J. MacDonald School on Feb. 15. (Debbie Johnson photo)

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SOS. Save Our School posters were held high during a community meeting held in Heatherton last Thursday evening. The Rev. H. J. MacDonald School is being considered for closure given declining student numbers and reduced school board funding. The superintendent of schools Jack Beaton along with board administration staff and most of the board members (First Nations representative Jason Bernard was absent) were present to address questions or concerns that came from the floor.
Approximately 200 parents, students, board members, municipal councillors and concerned area residents attended the meeting that at times, led to some heated discussion about the effects a closure would have on the students and the community as a whole.
A large number of concerned parents and citizens took to the mic to address their views on why closing the Heatherton school would be detrimental to the community and the area connected to the school. Some addressed the safety concerns of increased travel time on an undivided highway for the elementary students, others spoke about the role the school plays in the community.
Barb Bowie, a retired teacher and parent who had three children attend the Heatherton school said that it is the “small things that help build a community” and had requested each board member walk through the school to see the “wonderful things” that go on in the classroom before casting the vote.
“Please don’t take this school from us; it is the heart of the community,” she said.
Mark Delorey, a parent representing Heatherton Recreation took the mic on numerous occasions and spoke about the importance of recreational activities for the community and how integral the school was to the health and wellness of the community.
In addition to sports and recreation the school also has a strong relationship between the community’s group home and the students. Connie Decoffe who works with the developmentally-challenged adults at the non-profit home, notes that many of their fundraising initiatives are held at the school. She noted the group home residents have developed strong social relationships within the school community and has provided a unique learning experience for both clients and the students.
Logan Grant, a student at the school who along with his younger brother are both legally blind, spoke of the importance of a small school and how it made it easier for him to get used to his surroundings. He added that if he had to transfer to a larger school this would make it more difficult for him and his brother to get around and he feared he would lose his friends.
Other students took to the mic to ask the board to consider keeping the school open, some visibly upset by the possibility of the school closing. Even those students who moved onto junior high from the Heatherton school spoke of how they were made to feel important and got the help they needed from teachers who cared about their success. Grade 2 student Emma Chisholm asked the board to keep the school open for a few reasons.
“I feel safe here, I am scared to go to a big school, this is a kind school with no bullies and I would have a broken heart if it closes,” she said.
District 7 municipal councillor Angus Bowie took to the mic stressing that this was an important meeting on the future of the school and the community as a whole, given the strong role the school plays.
He posed the question of “why us?” and noted other schools of similar size have stayed open with lower student numbers. He noted to the board the negative effects moving the students into other schools would have on the community as a whole and reminded the board their decision on the school’s future will affect the community directly. In his mind the financial decision to possibly close the school doesn’t make sense given the school is still in good condition.
The school has also been a centre for numerous sports, community and youth groups over the years. Hannah Chisholm, Heatherton 4-H club president noted that meetings, club events and fundraising have been held over the years at the school. She posed a question to the crowd regarding the future of the school.
“Do we want our rural schools to follow the trend of the family farm to near extinction?” she said.
Parent and taekwondo instructor Johnny Phee added that the school has allowed him the space to hold classes at the school for the last three years. A number of his students were present to support him and he asked the question “why are we here tonight” noting it is a “beautiful school” that is inclusive and welcoming for students.
His wife Sylvia noted that the school brings something that is not offered at other schools through a sense of family and added that Theresa MacDonald, a long time playground supervisor, looks out for the school’s children for free.
“It would be an absolute shame to close the school…there will be a ripple effect throughout the whole community if it is closed,” she said.
Virginia Tate, a retired teacher who lives in Heatherton said that even without any family in the school she said she cares about the community and its young people.
“The two things that are holding this community together are the community and the church,” she said, adding that smaller schools are better for students.
“How much money will you actually save by closing this school, why destroy the centre of the community if there are other ways that can be found to save money?
A number of parents spoke of the quality of education students receive at the Heatherton School. In the case of Denise Chisholm she chose to return to Heatherton and have her son attend the school based on its reputation as a school that cares about the individual student.
Denise Samson mirrored the theme of roots and the importance of small schools. She noted that the basics were being taught with “no bells or whistles” and that students were speaking at the meeting unscripted because the school had instilled a sense of pride and confidence in them. She noted that the school meets and exceeds provincial test averages based on the quality of education they were receiving at the school.
A number of parents were also concerned about some clarifications that were discussed at the Feb. 15 working committee meeting. Mark Delorey questioned board superintendent Jack Beaton why these clarifications were made without speaking to the Heatherton school study committee first. Beaton noted that the meeting was an open public meeting and board chair Mary Jess MacDonald noted that the board approved the agenda that included discussing clarifications to the school study committee report.
Denise Delorey, who chaired the Heatherton school study committee, noted that it didn’t receive any questions from board members to clarify any concerns they may have about the study committee report.
Addressing the board chair she felt personally insulted and disrespected that the board didn’t include the committee in the process. She added that nowhere in the provincial education act’s school review process policy is there mention of another meeting for clarifications to the school study committee report.
Randy Delorey, another committee member, asked the chair if the board would schedule on the Feb. 22 special working committee meeting agenda regarding the school review process a time for them to respond to the board staff clarifications from the Feb. 16 meeting.
“Some of that information that was presented to the board may, in fact, be erroneous or misleading,” he said.
MacDonald said the agenda is already set for the Feb. 22 meeting and the board will accept written presentations to the board but that the request will not be on the agenda.
Delorey also asked the board for a show of hands to determine who on the board read appendix 14 to which MacDonald responded that the question was not acceptable. Boos, laughter and applause followed her response as Delorey spoke about the challenges the study committee had over the months.
“The community has one option left, the option to insure that the board is following rules and policies of the review process, a very important part of democracy. You have your vote on March 5 regarding the future of the school, remember the implications not only will it determine the future of this school it could also determine the future of this board,” he said.