A plan to close New Central and Brantwood
Oakville February 24th, 2008
I wanted to post a message an acquaintance of mine received. It would be tragic if this was to happen to the two little schools. Many friends and family went to New Central and Brantwood and it would be a shame if they closed down. It will force all the children in the area to be bused to the outer skirts. One would think there are far more pressing issues in Oakville that need to be addressed than closing these two darling public schools. Anyway, please read the e-mail below and act accordingly:
NOTICE TO ANY AND ALL PARENTS OF CHILDREN AT NEW CENTRAL AND BRATNWOOD, AND RESIDENTS OF THE DOWNTOWN CORE:
Despite the work and input of the Southeast Oakville PARC Committee and the input of Southeast Oakville residents, the Halton District School Board has tabled a plan that would involve closing both New Central and Brantwood leaving the downtown area with no school. The Board’s Superintendent of Finance has drafted four scenarios that he is recommending the PARC Committee submit to the Board for approval. Three of these four scenarios involve closing both New Central and Brantwood.
This decision has potentially significant ramifications for the viability of the downtown core. If you are opposed to leaving downtown with no educational facilities it is imperative that you post your feedback on the board website by February 4, 2008.
If we do not come forward with our comments there is a very significant likelihood that the downtown area will be left with no school. Please forward your input.
Please also forward this e-mail to everyone you know who may be affected by these potential school closures.
Thank you,
Laura E. Oliver (loliver@primus.ca)
Barrister
88 Dunn Street, Suite 302
Oakville, ON
L6J 3C7
(905) 842-4977
(905) 842-5144
April 29th, 2008 at 3:05 am
I have found a couple of websites that address this very topic…
http://www.myoakville.org
and also a residence advocacy group
http://www.oakvilleresidentsforpubliceducation.com/home.html
There are some serious concerns regarding the schools in our neighbourhood…I am completely saddened and disappointed with the boards decision to close both schools on the western boundries of ward 3 and would keep 2 schools very close together on the eastern boundries of ward 3
I have been a resident in ward 3 for well over 25 years and in that time this issue has been looming over all of us as a community. The PARC study was done and although many people would agree there were things that we did not like in that process it was the process mandated and so I feel strongly that the recommendations should have been adopted by the school board staff…to then be recommended to the trustees.
There is a large part of me that feels that those in power are making a decision based on the property values of the two school sites being slated for closure. Arguably Brantwood and New Central could be sold off for a tidy sum of money, based on what the personal property has been valued for in the areas that surrounds these two school sites. Part of what makes the personal property valued so high in the area is that there are lovely walk to schools.
There are many other concerns I wish to express regarding this whole school closure issue, but I think my sentiments and thought correspond with those express in those two website links as stated above…!!!
As a community we need to stand together!!!