By Staff
November 14th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Sounds like rubbing the salt into the wound.
The Board of Education sent out a media release asking Lester B. Pearson high parents if they might be interested in serving on a sub-committee to prepare for the school’s closing in June 2018.
They have until December 1st to send in an Expression of Interest Submission form.
On the same day a group of parents from the school were told by the Board that Patrick Brown, Leader of the Ontario Opposition could not tour the schools.
Rory Nisan and George Ward trading contact information – both have been active in efforts to keep their school open.
In their media release the Board said the Lester B. Pearson High School’s Integration Committee is seeking subcommittee members and volunteers to form two subcommittees in preparation of the school’s closing in June 2018. Members of the subcommittees can be students, staff, parents, alumni or community members.
The first subcommittee is being created to assist in the identification, gathering and cataloguing of Lester B. Pearson High School artifacts and the development of a plan to honour memorabilia. Members of the second subcommittee will assist in the planning of closing ceremonies and community activities.
Where will the school’s memorabilia go?
Tasks of subcommittee members and volunteers include, but are not limited to:
• Creating an inventory of artifacts and memorabilia items (e.g. banners, graduate composites, awards, etc.)
• Designing and dedicating space to display memorabilia in the community
• Liaising with the Burlington Historical Society and Burlington museums
• Development and planning of closing ceremonies and activities
• Developing a communication strategy and timelines
“Honouring artifacts and memorabilia from Lester B. Pearson High School and celebrating the history of the school is a priority for the Integration Committee, as well as current and former students and staff,” says Terri Blackwell, Superintendent of Education for the Halton District School Board.
If you are interested in this opportunity, as a subcommittee member or volunteer, please complete the Expression of Interest form The form will be available until Friday, December 1, 2017. The subcommittees will be formed prior to the first meeting on December 14, 2017.
Bateman and Pearson high school parents are hoping that Margaret Wilson, the Facilitator doing an Administrative Review of the Board decision to close the schools will recommend that the PAR process be done a second time.
Parents at the two high schools scheduled to close are hanging their hopes for a change in the decision on the Administrative Review of the process the Board used to close the school.
It is a stretch – but Administrative Reviews have in the past sent a decision back to a school board and required them to do the Program Accommodation Review a second time.
The problem with this “hope” is that it all goes back to the elected trustees that made the decision to close the schools.
That’s the level at which a change has to be made.
The board has to think of the students who will be affected if things progress. They also are probably thinking about getting the students in a positive frame of mind, as opposed to constant, prolonged negativity. Look at the Board website and you will see photos of MMR and Pearson students, in pairs, in each of their school colour shirts, working together to plan out their implementation ideas. It is very important to not drag the students down, and to consider their feelings. The longer time they have to make the plans, the better they will turn out. One of the biggest goals of the HDSB is to increase resiliency in the students. This is vital to their growth and development.
In the news now there are stories about the massive increase in mental health issues and anxieties for young people and kids. Showing the students that if the plans go through as the board planned, things will be not just ok, but good, and that they are already working hard to get them involved and to make plans for their benefit surely is helpful to them. I am sure many are worried and unsure about what lies ahead and the more positive the board and school staff can be with them, and the less uncertainty they project, the better.
Well said Lynne. Totally agree
This matches their obtuse behaviour from the beginning. I would expect nothing less from HDSB.
I don’t think it’s rubbing salt in the wound at all. The Board clearly stated that they would continue with the implementation of the PAR decision while limiting expenditures during the administrative review. June will be here before we know it and if the decision stays, the Board (& the school) need to be ready for it. Besides, if the Board didn’t start forming these committees far enough in advance we all know people would be screaming from the rooftops.
Exactly. If they didn’t form these committees or do it with enough time, they’d be complaining about that. It’s really mainly the parents that are complaining about the school mergers. In spite of all the negativity spewed by the parents, the kids seem to be taking this very well and are even excited and enthusiastic about the partnering of the schools. It is actually for the benefit of the students and it’s so sad that something that should be embraced and the students are excited about is being overshadowed by a shroud of negativity from a couple groups of grumpy adults.
Really! This can’t wait until after the Admin Review is completed? Keep on rubbing salt into the wound HDSB you are doing a tremendous job!