Tears meet trustees mulling Richmond school closures
Posted September 20, 2016 1:20 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
RICHMOND (NEWS 1130) — The first district meeting since families in Richmond learned three of their 38 elementary schools could be shut down saw tears and passionate speeches from the gallery.
On Monday, trustees received a report from superintended Sherry Elwood recommending the closure of Woodward, McKay and Dixon elementary schools. The recommendations are an effort to bolster enrollment in order to meet the requirements to receive seismic funding from the province.
Elwood emphasis “the board has not given me any direction,” and points out the unpopular recommendations are her best recommendations for the overall picture.
“We don’t want to be in a place 10 years from now where we have to undo soothing,” she says.
Parents and community advocates of Dixon Elementary are particularly perturbed to see their school on the list with some suggesting the choice doesn’t make sense and the province is “holding the safety of our students hostage.”
Kelly Greene, a parent with Richmond Stands United, presented a letter to the school board.
Jelly Green speaks for #Richmond Schools United against possible closures. pic.twitter.com/gru9LTXkVl
— Stephanie Froese (@StephanieFroese) September 20, 2016
“I think all of the talks about school closures have focused on low enrollment but that is not our problem at Dixon. We are a strong school, we a school people choose to come to. Why not put in a school, like Gilmore, that’s actually less safe and has been identified as one of the worst schools in the province, seismically,” Stephanie Dunn tells NEWS 1130.
“They’ve only put three school on the list and for them to get their numbers anywhere close to the goal that the government has set to get seismic upgrade funding, they need to close all three … I think we’re a political casualty,” parent Amie Nowak says.
Several people in the gallery teared up during question time, including former youth worker Henry Yao who is one of several community advocates who hopes Trustees will push outside the bounders set by the province.
“I made a speech out of a moment of frustration. We need to draw a line somewhere. I hate to see what’s going to happen to Richmond Schools,” Yao says.
Trustees are faced with making a decision on the closure recommendations at an October 17th meeting.
“This is not a pleasant experience for students, parents or trustees,” trustee Jonathan Ho points out.
“This is the only road map we’re left with. The board has exhausted every possible case to the powers that be,” trustee Eric Yung told the gallery.
Other districts are facing similar tough decisions.
Vancouver School Board Trustees are expected to decide if any of the 12 schools on their list will be considered for closing at a September 26th public meeting.
