What’s the future for Ontario’s rural schools?

As MPP for this rural riding of Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant, I have been consistent in my efforts to have government and school boards address the many challenges faced by rural schools.

Having just returned from Finance Committee hearings on James Bay, I can also report that things aren’t better in the single-school communities of the North. The Attawapiskat school is shut down because of diesel contamination – putting everyone in portables – and this Fall has seen a mass exodus of 30 per cent of families from Fort Severn after mould contamination closed the doors to their only school.

Locally, small schools have been studied for closure. While some schools have narrowly escaped closing, others have been less fortunate and have seen their doors closed permanently.

I have fought for Delhi, Burford, Valley Heights and Port Dover high schools – all but Burford remain open. Each and every time, I have reiterated my request for special provincial funding, and I went as far as to call for a moratorium on rural high school closures. Most recently I have worked with a great group of parents from Caledonia in an attempt to maintain Seneca Unity Public School.

Last December, Education Minister Gerard Kennedy wrote a letter to each school board in the province asking them to consider a moratorium on school closures. At that time I asked myself, “What good is a moratorium if it’s not mandatory?” Minister Kennedy’s announcement gave parents, students and teachers false hope that their school would be saved, despite his refusal to back his request with legislation.

At the end of the day, I was personally underwhelmed by the present government’s temporary moratorium request because schools remained on the chopping block and communities were left feeling that they had been mislead during the election.

Now, Minister Kennedy is promising additional provincial funding. Earlier this year, the Liberal government announced $31 million to the Good Schools Open fund, and just last week, Minister Kennedy and Premier McGuinty arrived at the Plowing Match to re-announce these funds. Last year, prior to the provincial election, the Conservative government announced a rural education strategy that added $74 million in new funding for Ontario’s rural schools

It puzzles me that Premier McGuinty and the Minister of Education chose the Plowing Match in Meaford to make this announcement, because I can think of a better location – why not in a threatened high school?

In 2003-2004, rural schools received an average grant of over $108,000. Under the new Liberal plan, these same schools have seen their annual grant drop by 75 per cent. This year, they will receive less than $27,000.

Despite the fact that the Liberals have offered $43 million less in grant top-ups this year to rural Ontario schools, I am heartened to see that Mr. Kennedy and Premier McGuinty are promising to continue following the recommendations set out by Dr. Mordechai Rozanski - appointed two years ago by our previous government - to review the education funding formula.

I am anxious – as are parents, students and others across our rural area – to hear from Mr. Kennedy exactly how the $31 million announcement will impact schools in Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant, and to see what this government plans for the future of Ontario’s rural schools. I truly hope that this will not leave our rural schools and small communities with a less than adequate commitment.