Montague parents seek more data in review of area schools

Those attending the school review meeting for the Montague family of schools asked school reorganization project manager Bob Andrews of the P.E.I. Public Schools Branch for more data before any decisions are made.

About 170 people attended the meeting Wednesday at the Vernon River Consolidated School.

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Schools in the Montague family are all underutilized and projected to stay that way.

Many at the meeting asked questions or expressed concerns about french immersion programs, wanted more in-depth capacity numbers and more research into the cost per student.

"This is an emotional issue, this is an important issue, education is very important and it should be important to parents and communities," said Andrews.

Education outcomes

Belfast-Murray River MLA Darlene Compton questioned why education outcomes was not included in the data.

"In the district I represent there are two schools, both part of the Montague family of schools, and I know they both perform very highly as far as testing goes, so where does that come into play?" asked Compton.

"You have to look at not only the bricks and mortar but the nurturing of students, the attention that they get in a smaller school, the sense of community and family that they have, I think those are very important."

Andrews said the impact a change would make on education would be considered, but added how schools perform will not come into play.

Willing to participate

Wade Czank, whose son is in Grade 6 at Vernon River Consolidated, said change is always good.

"I'm not really concerned because if the schools are rezoned, the difference between the schools here isn't a great amount... ten minutes on a bus here, fifteen minutes on a bus there."

Andrews was happy with the turnout at the meeting and the number of people who have approached him with ideas already.

"I haven't processed all that information but certainly people are giving me some ideas and suggestions, they are using the online form which is great, which just went live yesterday, I'm getting emails, so the encouraging part is they are willing to participate," Andrews said.

Interested persons have until Nov. 30 to provide input to the P.E.I. Public Schools Branch on the school review process.

A second round of public meeting to gather ideas from the community begins in November. 

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