Ministry of Educations most recent update of the closure guidelines "Good Places To Learn" |
The School Board has altered their plans...Gorham & Ware is still on the chopping block. But that does not mean it's a decision that cannot be changed! The Ministry of Education is still saying our board did not have to make these decisions. Our community still has $450,000 invested in our community centre. We must make the government stand up and take responsibility for what is happening in our rural communities! They say they will support our economies -- let's make them do exactly that. The Day of Action in Support of Public Education was a success! We had a great turn out of people from across the school board's jurisdiction. The meeting with the four Ministries was productive. A new coalition has been formed, with representatives from 9 schools and 3 communities surrounding Thunder Bay. Partners for Community Schools has an on-line petition and survey. Please go to www.lakesuperiorstore.com/schools . .If you have information or suggestions on some next steps, please contact us. Our next meeting is Tuesday, June 14 @ 7:00pm, in the Community Room at our school on Kam Current Road. |
Go to our Take Action page to contact these ministers. |
Don't let them close our school! |
Save Gorham and Ware School From Closure by the Lakehead District School Board |
Welcome **Join us for our next meeting, Tuesday, June 14 @ 7pm! We are a group of concerned citizens who have formed an ad hoc committee called the Gorham and Ware Prevent School Closure Committee. The Trustees of Lakehead District School Board have voted to close our school. We must continue the fight to keep our School and Community Centre open. Now we must put pressure on the provincial government. Dalton McGuinty and the Liberal's campaign was based on education and the power of people. Make them put their money where their mouth is. They have the power to change the LDSB's misguided devastation of our education system in Thunder Bay. |
Go to our Take Action page to contact these ministers. |
The School Board has altered their plans...Gorham & Ware is still on the chopping block. But that does not mean it's a decision that cannot be changed! The Ministry of Education is still saying our board did not have to make these decisions. Our community still has $450,000 invested in our community centre. We must make the government stand up and take responsibility for what is happening in our rural communities! They say they will support our economies -- let's make them do exactly that. The Day of Action in Support of Public Education was a success! We had a great turn out of people from across the school board's jurisdiction. The meeting with the four Ministries was productive. A new coalition has been formed, with representatives from 9 schools and 3 communities surrounding Thunder Bay. Partners for Community Schools has an on-line petition and survey. Please go to www.lakesuperiorstore.com/schools . .If you have information or suggestions on some next steps, please contact us. Our next meeting is Tuesday, June 14 @ 7:00pm, in the Community Room at our school on Kam Current Road. |
"Schools help shape community identity and contribute to a high quality of life. A local school can attract young families to live, work and raise their children in that community." (quote from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing's report "Growing Stronger Rural Communities") |
In a letter received from the Education Ministry dated July 2, 2004, it states "The Ministry of Education is developing guidelines for school closure policies that will require school boards to assess the education and community value of schools being considered for closure. The new guidelines will be announced soon." |
Please visit regularly, as our site is updated often. |
With the proposed new elementary hard cap in place, our school will be at 90% capacity. 5% above the boards average AFTER the proposed closures Hardly a legitimate candidate for closure. |
We feel the following Ministries have a direct stake and interest in our school and community centre and they have an obligation to help us keep it open. |
The Ministry of Education. As stated, Gerard Kennedy supports rural and small schools and appreciates the contribution these schools make to Ontario as a whole. |
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Minister John Gerretsen supports rural schools as stated in his ministry's paper, "Strong Rural Communities, Working Together for Success". |
The Ministry of Tourism and Recreation. Minister Jim Bradley supports rural schools in his statement .... By ensuring school space is affordable and accessible to the communities that schools serve, the government is supporting healthy, active lifestyles, encouraging citizen engagement in community activities and fostering safe and vital communities. Recreation is vital to the health and well-being of individuals, and strengthens communities by encouraging volunteer involvement and providing constructive activities for youth. |
The Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. Minister Rick Bartolucci supports rural schools through his "Northern Prosperity Plan". |
The Premier of Ontario. Premier Dalton McGuinty supports rural schools and rural life through his "Ontario Rural Plan". An initiative recognizing and supporting the continued existence of Strong Rural Communites. It states that " Schools help shape community identity and contribute to a high quality of life. The presence of a local school can attract young families to live, work and raise their children in that community." |
Ministry of Educations most recent update of the closure guidelines "Good Places To Learn" |
We strongly encourage everyone to read the new report Good Places to Learn: Renewing Ontario's Schools. (see link in top left corner of this page). There are too many good details to list here. Please read the report. But keep in mind, "guidelines" are just that; we will still need our government to step in to ensure our board follows these new recommendations. So, the review process is under way! The Minister of Education has appointed an indedpendent facilitator, Mr. David Cooke. He was a former Minister of Education, under Bob Rae's NDP government. Mr. Cooke will meet with various groups, soliciting information about the Lakehead Board's school closure process, to determine if they did follow the "spirit" of the new closure guidelines. He will make recommendations to Minister Kennedy, and it will be up to the Minister to issue directives or recommendations to the school board. We can only wait and see what the results of this review are. NEW! Mr. Cooke told our committee at our meeting of May 11th, that he has now been convinced the school board DID NOT follow the new guidelines for school closures. He is now looking at other elements of the closure plans, to help determine which, if any, schools should actually close this year. He seems to appreciate Gorham & Ware School and recognizes we have the facilities in place to enable some of the new programs to be implemented with little government funding necessary. |
