Public board trustee to put forth motion to reconsider name of Kingsville school

When public board trustee Julia Burgess put forth a name a naming committee hadn't shortlisted for a new Kingsville school, it erupted a community firestorm.

Linda Qin was one of two trustees who voted against the name Erie Migration Academy. Now, after hearing from parents, she will put forth a motion at the next board meeting to reconsider the choice.

"We got a lot of information and they sent us letters and I also talked with many parents and I think the most concern is because of the less democracy and transparency," Qin said.

Erie Migration Academy will be the new regional K-12 school for Kingsville and surrounding area. Set to open in September, it's expected to have a student population of 1,700.

While the Greater Essex County District School Board's policy allows trustees to pick a name other than the ones shortlisted by the naming committee, Burgess said she developed the name from other ones put forward by community members.

However, some parents and students were still upset and demonstrated in front of Kingsville District High School last week.

The two names shortlisted by a naming committee were Kingsville District Academy and Greater Kingsville Academy.

Parent Jodie Scherer agrees the board should revisit its choice.

"Absolutely," said Scherer. "I think they they need to look at it and appreciate what's really happened here and let the students have a voice in the naming of their school."

WATCH | Demonstrators say students should have had 'a voice' in school naming decision:

Essex MPP Anthony Leardi also heard from parents and doesn't believe the name fits the criteria that should be used when choosing a name.

He said the name Kingsville was left out, and while the word Erie does locate the school the name doesn't reflect local historical events, culture, traditions or the community or representations of diversity.

"It's the role of the community to choose the name and the name should reflect what the community wants," said Leardi.

Kingsville parent Corrine Ross agrees with Leardi.

"I think that they should put forward a motion to reconsider," said Ross.

Trustee Cathy Cooke said she will also seek to reconsider the name at the next board meeting, set for Tues. Mar. 19.

"I do disagree with what has happened," she told CBC News in a voicemail.

"I think that it's the process and it was unfair and I think that because of what happened." 

Cooke wasn't at the meeting when the vote was taken.

Burgess said procedurally only trustees who were on the prevailing side of the vote could make a motion to reconsider — and even then there had to be new information that came to light. 

Burgess said the backlash wasn't new and was anticipated, and that it will be up to the chair to decide whether to bring this to a vote.

CBC News has reached out to board chair Gale Simko-Hatfield but has yet to receive a response.