Volunteers Distribute Information at Sector Review Events
The Community Schools Coaltion has prepared a four-page handout for people participating in the sector review workshops.
They offer facts about school space, demographics and revitalization efforts not included in the EPSB documents. Any meaningful discussion of change depends on bringing forward information that is accurate and complete.
The current process begins with a conclusion that several schools must be shut down and works backward to find supporting evidence. That is not meaningful public engagement.
Here is the spring schedule for sector review meetings:
South-central: Saturday, May 29th at Strathcona School
West-central: Saturday, June 5th at Ross Sheppard School
Central: Saturday, June 19th at Victoria School
All workshops begin at 9 a.m.
The south-central handout, west-central handout and central handout are available as downloads from Google in MS Word format.
Media Advisory
Affected students, parents and other people concerned about the proposal to close half of Edmonton's inner city schools and half of the schools in the Hardisty area will rally in advance of the crucial vote.
When: Tuesday, April 13th, 5:15 to 5:45 p.m.
Where: In front of EPSB Headquarters (sometimes called the Centre for Education or the Blue Building) at One Kingsway Avenue, across from the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
Here is the timeline for the event:
5:00 - 5:15: Gathering on the sidewalk in front of the Blue Building.
5:15 - 5:25: Informal picket on public property. We will not be hindering access.
5:25 - 5:30: Hip hop preformance by inner city junior high students worried about their schools.
5:30 - 5:45: Short speeches featuring representatives from the affected areas: Alberta Avenue, Boyle-McCauley and Greater Hardisty. The group will also hear from:
- Bill Moore-Kilgannon, Executive Director, Public Interest Alberta
- Hugh MacDonald, MLA, Edmonton-Gold Bar
- Brian Mason, MLA, Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood
The meeting of trustees to consider closure begins at 6:00 p.m.
We are eager to help facilitate any needs arising out of television newscasts and have provided contact information for an on-site liaison.
Students in the performance may consent to interviews. That has been cleared with their parents. We ask that they be identified only by their first names.
Email: info (at) community-schools.org
- 30 -
Rally Reminder
The Community Schools Coalition, Edmonton, invites you to show your support for great education in great neighbourhoods on Tuesday, April 13th.
We will meet on the sidewalk in front of EPSB headquarters, the blue building on Kingsway Avenue across from the Royal Alexandra Hospital, shortly after 5 p.m. Please bring a sign if you'd like -- or just attend to let politicians know that you favour revitalization and community partnerships, not school closure.
Starting at 6 p.m., trustees will consider an administrative recommendation to close half of the public schools in Edmonton's inner city: McCauley, Parkdale and Eastwood (additionally Spruce Avenue would lose all elementary-level programming) and half of the public schools in the Hardisty area, including Fulton Place and Capilano.
The move is being contemplated despite city plans to increase the number of children living in established communities through family-friendly redevelopment. This spring and fall, the EPSB will review more than 70 additional schools for possible closure.
As an alternative to boarded-up buildings, various not-for-profit groups and child care and early education providers have offered partnerships that would fill much of the facility space that the district is not currently using for instructional purposes.
Your presence on April 13th will show trustees that these creative and sustainable solutions are better options than silencing the heartbeat of a neighbourhood.
Seven of Nine: Fully Assimilated
Asked to provide a statement of personal values that will guide their decision-making for the school closure vote, seven of nine trustees have declined, instead submitting a joint declaration of their faith in the process.
Resistance is not futile.
Trustees Dave Colburn and Sue Huff were the only elected officials to speak their minds. They pledged to put the needs of children before those of the institution and to respect the views of people in the affected neighbourhoods.
Said Trustee Colburn: "in the best interests of this community..."
Said Trustee Huff: "in the best interests of children..."
Said Seven of Nine: "in the best interests of the corporation..."
The statements were collected by award-winning Edmonton Journal education reporter Sarah O'Donnell.