By Marianne Mead Ward
January 2nd, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Any time there’s a proposal to close a school, things are bound to get a bit bumpy.
Witness the uproar over Burlington Central High School (BCHS) students holding “Save Central High School” signs as part of their school float in the Santa Claus Parade. Enter “Float-gate.”
The Burlington Post ran an article raising concerns (as well as support) for the students’ actions, and followed that up with an editorial criticizing the students.
Students in the Santa Claus parade.
The mayor pledged to review the city’s policies. The students were accused of “politicizing” the event – never mind that elected officials ride in it every year – rather than praised for raising awareness about what’s happening in our own community and how they feel about it.
The majority of residents I heard from supported the students, as did I. As one resident summed it up: It’s okay to commercialize the parade with businesses, but not a student group advocating for their community. Huh?
Witness also the (lesser) uproar over my appointment on the Program & Accommodation Review Committee (PARC) studying the proposed school closures. I took heat from some of my colleagues and online commenters for accepting the Parent Council’s nomination as one of two parent representative for BCHS, where my son attends.
Keep politics out of it, was the theme, including from the mayor, who believes elected officials should stay out of this and chose the city manager as the municipal representative on the PARC.
Our city manager, James Ridge, will be terrific and I look forward to working with him. But the mayor missed an opportunity to sit on the committee himself and represent the entire community. I met with the mayor in advance to encourage him to be on the committee, and also spoke about this publicly during the council vote, so reading it here won’t be a surprise.
Why raise these two incidents? First, there seems to be an aversion to anything labelled “political” – which is a terrible way to treat our democracy.
Everything about the school closure process is already political. Elected trustees will make the final decision on any school closures, based on policies set by an elected provincial government. Governments advocate to different levels all the time. Several Ontario city councils are taking tangible action to save their schools. More on that in a future post. Earlier this year, a fellow councillor and myself both delegated at a meeting of Catholic trustees considering elementary school closures in Burlington. Happily, trustees voted not to close any schools.
All of this is democracy in action. Call it politics if you will, but people fought and died for the rights we enjoy to elect and expect our representatives to listen to us, and advocate for us.
Second, notice the criticism isn’t about the issue, the proposal to close schools, but rather about the manner in which people choose to be involved in that issue. This, too, is an attack on democracy. Every time someone is criticized for speaking up or getting involved, it creates a chilling effect on others doing likewise. Safer to keep your head down, and stay out of the issues. You won’t draw fire.
But you also won’t achieve much for your community. This is not a time for elected officials, our young people, or anyone to sit on the sidelines. We all must step up, get involved, and work for the best outcome for our students and our entire community.
Yes, it may get a bit bumpy. So it should. Schools are the heart of communities. We should care passionately about what happens in our schools, and to our schools. With passion, comes differing perspectives. Let’s welcome the discussion.
Central high school students and parents on the GO train to a demonstration in front of Queen’s Park.
Thank goodness our students are bold and bright and won’t be silenced. They showed courage in going public with their views and doing what they can to raise awareness to save their school. We should be celebrating these students, and encouraging all our young citizens to follow suit. These kids are embracing and acting on the privileges that come with living in a democracy. You make our community proud!
The final recommendation and decision by the trustees could be very different from the initial recommendation to close Central, close Pearson HS and make other program and boundary changes. It could be your school proposed to close instead.
Marianne Meed Ward is the city Councillor for ward 2. She is serving her second term on city council. Central high school is located in ward 2.
So why would councilor Meed Ward as an elected official engage her office in a process that she could fully participate in as a parent and resident?
Who said she was engaging her office in the PARC? Meed Ward is serving because she was asked to serve by the parent’s association.
If she chose to serve as an usher at her church – would that too be political?
This commentator has consistently shown that he has his own political issues with Meed Ward.
James
“Who said she was engaging her office in the PARC?”
I used your quote, not exactly what I have said.
Actually councilor Meed Ward said she would engage her office, once in 2014 prior to the election and again in 2016 prior to the trustees approving a PAR.
This is a quote from her.
“The community, and my office, would oppose closure not just for these schools, but elsewhere in Burlington”
If you believe I have political issues with councilor Meed Ward please share what I have said to cause you to have that opinion.
Editor’s note: We have a reader trying very hard to use words spoken in one context into another. when Meed Ward said she would “engage her office” to support her constituents she was doing what any responsible politician would do.
In her first year in office Meed Ward was out on the street picking up some garbage because she couldn’t reach anyone at city hall to clean up the mess – this is a politician who rolls up her slevves and gets the job done.
Meed Ward spoke as a politician and when asked as a parent to step up and serve as a parent she did so.
Why does this reader continually harp on what a member of council does – is there a political agenda being played out here?
Editors note
The quote I provided was used in the context of a PAR being initiated, you may be referring to something different.
This is an article from councilor Meed Ward and my comments and concerns are regarding her involvement as a parent representative on the PARC and how that effects the other schools and ultimately the students.
I also asked a question of the councilor that if answered could help resolve those concerns.
That inseparable combination of parent and politician is unique to councilor Meed Ward, if the editor sees that as harping or a political adjenda please explain your perspective, I don’t see it.
Did I read somewhere that there are schools in Burlington using “Portable” class rooms…if this is true why are those students not bused to Central…I experienced being taught in a portable class room and it was horrible…and as an aside…my neighbor with three young boys bought in this neighborhood because of Central, how many young families are in the Central School area with children that will come of school age shortly….are future students considered.
Well said. Marianne Meed Ward’s is the voice of reason. She will make a great mayor.
This article appeared on the ward 2 news site where my comment and question below was posted.
“Second, notice the criticism isn’t about the issue, the proposal to close schools, but rather about the manner in which people choose to be involved in that issue”
Two things that seem unusual about this statement.
The issue is about 1800 excess student spaces and how that effects the board’s ability to provide the best opportunities possible for our students, closing schools is only one option to resolve those imbalances.
The manner you have chosen to get involved, as a parent representative for central yet I am reading your comments on ward 2 news where you present yourself as a councilor. It’s obvious you can’t separate these positions, raising concerns of your ability to be fair and equitable to all schools under review.
As a political representative for ward 2 where central is located, are you involved as a parent representative to save central high school over other schools or are you open to a fair and equitable process to achieve the best result for students of all schools ?
John, I’m positive that the parents of Central High students want Central to remain open, but with more students attending. I’d also be very surprised that the majority of Ward 2 residents want Central closed. I imagine that their opinions on keeping it open have been sent to Councillor Meed Ward.
So her membership on the PARC, whether as parent or Councillor are fine with me. She’s representing both in what is clearly more than just an “educational” issue. This is a community issue.
According to the 2012-2013 LTAP info supplied to the Gazette by Tom Muir, the possible closure of Central is no surprise to anyone versed in educational matters (except those who don’t have a fine-toothed comb to find the information that has not widely been shared by the School Board Trustees as it should have been).
I wish our Mayor and other Councillors took much more interest in a matter that could make the downtown area (you know, the one that is slated for intensification) one to be avoided by families in the future who find out there is no neighbourhood high school downtown. Guess it will be just seniors and empty nesters creating the “vibrancy” if the school is allowed to close.
How about stopping the whining about who’s on the PARC and get concerned about the issue itself.
JQ
I have no doubt parents of central students and the majority of ward 2 residents want to keep the school open.
My question to councilor Meed Ward was not if ward 2 and central parent’s wanted to keep central open, it was if she was open to a fair and equitable process to achieve the best results for students of all schools.
I am more than happy to address the issue however, that issue involves all 7 high schools and all 6 ward’s in our city.
I sent this comment yesterday into Councilor Meed Ward’s newsletter on this school closures issue, in response to another reader who also questioned the “political appropriateness” of this issue and Meed Ward’s participation. My comment holds for John’s opinion as well.
“John, I appreciate your right to opinion, but I think you are arbitrarily restricting what a political issue is. This school closing issue and decision-making process is by definition political.
That makes it personal, so we are all involved elected official or not.
The City is involved regardless of opinions. Elected city officials and city staff are involved as our representatives. I want them to comment on what various options and issues mean for the city.
Commenting is not the same as trying to affect the vote
This is their job, and if they don’t want to do this for their own “political” motives then they have lost their way, and are not representing us. I support Councilor Meed Ward at the table, as someone with her savvy is needed.
She should not be excluded from participating, and I think the process she will be in will ensure accountability for all.
And I have to wonder what the Mayor is thinking when he avoids involvement saying it’s political, which is just a truism, and thus a disingenuous dodge, in my opinion. He’s clearly playing politics himself.
It’s not just Central and Pearson on the block – everything and every school is in there somehow and in some way.
It is not just a school board issue, although they have the vote and make the final decision.
I want their feet held to the fire, since it is their past decisions, and not really paying attention, that has created the mess we are in.”
Tom
“Elected trustees will make the final decision on any school closures, based on policies set by an elected provincial government”
The above is a quote taken from this article by councilor Meed Ward.
That’s two different levels of elected officials whos responsibility is to determine and deliver the best possible education experience in Ontario, more specifically Halton and Burlington.
No one is suggesting Meed Ward should not participate in the process, as a parent and resident she has the same right as any other.
So why would councilor Meed Ward as an elected official engage her office in a process that she could fully participate in as a parent and resident?
Interestingly the quote below referring to councilor Meed ward may hold the answer.
“If there was ever an issue given to a potential candidate on a silver plate – the possible closing of two high schools in their city is about as good as it could get”
John:
You continue to raise this issue and in multiple fora. With all due respect, I believe that you are painting perceived conflicts that are without merit. The fact that Meed Ward is a parent of a student at Central High School only provides an additional dimension to her appreciation of the issues. She is more than capable of representing the interests of her family, her ward 2 constituents and the citizens of Burlington. Your question of her “…are you open to a fair and equitable process to achieve the best result for students of all schools?” begs the response “of course, if I can find one”. Really, the entire situation is filled with hidden agenda, conflicting or imperfectly balanced priorities/policies and the desire to mask the unfortunate results of abysmal planning. She, at least, has the competence, experience and vision to perform what is needed. That can be said of very few of the others involved, including the Trustees.
I’m afraid that we continue to disagree.
Mike
The conflict councilor Meed Ward has created is between her personal interest as a parent and her professional/public interest and obligations as an elected official.
So who get’s to decide conflict, you, me, Pepper, or is it the parent’s and residents of all 7 schools and 6 ward’s ?
According to a comment made by councilor Meed Ward it’s just her, I disagree.
That is what my question is attempting to clarify.
If as you say the question begs a response and it’s as simple as the one you suggest, why haven’t we seen an answer for what is now over a month ?
Sometimes the answer’s you don’t get tell you more than you realize.
I wold love to hear the rational for your statement below.
“Really, the entire situation is filled with hidden agenda, conflicting or imperfectly balanced priorities/policies and the desire to mask the unfortunate results of abysmal planning.”
Careful when judging the competence and experience of others involved in this process, including the trustees.
And Mike, never be afraid to disagree.