Trustee Requests Further Consultations For Joint Use School

By Robert Thomas

Is a school more than just a place for children to go to and learn but is it also a centre or a hub to help build and strengthen the local community?

This was one of the questions asked when a Prairie South School Division (PSSD) trustee asked the Board to allow further public input into the closing of two schools - Empire Community School and Westmount Elementary School - and the creation of one joint-use school for South Hill. A move which would effectively put the brakes on the proposed South Hill joint-use school.

At their September 1st regular meeting PSSD trustees entertained a motion from Trustee Jan Radwanski to hold further public consultations with the community into the school closures when the proposed new school opens.

Radwanski based his reasonings on the effect to the neighbourhoods, residents and the area MLA having a direct hand in the final decision without a larger public consultation.

Although the motion initially requested a review into the viability of the two closing schools Board Chair Robert Bachmann said that the original motion could not be discussed because the provincial legislation only allows viability reviews if schools are being closed but in this case the schools were being replaced.

“I am in a little bit of a hard place here because Administration has said in their preparation of the template there is no viability review conducted when a school is replaced and so then I would entertain the idea if you are wanting to ammend your motion though it was in accord with processes we have in place I would be open to that but I don’t believe we can entertain the motion as it is currently worded,” Trustee Bachmann said.

Folowing agreeing to ammend his motion to remove the wording requesting a ‘viability review’ to take place, Trustee Radwanski continued asking for further and more in-depth community consultations.

Trustee Radwanski requested “A process or a series of processes (which) would certainly allow for community members, organizations, parents, students and staff and pthers to examine the reasoning for proposing the schools being Westmount and Empire that are located on Currie Crescent and Couteau Street and establishing a joint use school as to date is an unexamined site off of Glendale Street.”

Trustee Radwanski felt PSSD had not sufficiently engaged South Hill residents in what he viewed as school closures.

“The process that has been undertaken to date has certainly been one that has in my opinion one that has not sufficiently promoted the concept on South Hill we would just have one elementary school for public offerings,” he said. “Certainly it is tough not to say they are not being closed especially if your children attend those schools and you ‘(live) in those neighbourhoods. It would be re-established in another area of Moose Jaw so I think that this is an example of the first time since amalgamation that a school is being altered or closed that Moose Jaw residents deserve an opportunity to better examine the reasoning for this move.”

“The decision making process by trustees I feel has been shallow for a project of this type one that has been estimated at between $50 to $70 million. I believe that we need to put these plans on hold for now and hold some consultations in order that it can be genuine and sincere.”

— PSSD Trustee Jan Radwanski

Trustee Radwanski said there was more than just closing a school and relocating the students but the move also included the loss of gymnasiums and space which allowed before and after school student, family and community activities.

“We are closing a community school. Empire is a designated community school and I believe that that th closing of a community school deserves a viable scrutiny because these restricting access to our neighbourhood schools…means restricting access to before and after school programs for persons n those neighbourhoods as well as community members that participate in the evening classes and evening activities at those schools. By eliminating those two locations and amalgamating them into one location for South Hill and restricting that type of access I think deserves scrutiny,” he said.

“I believe closing two schools in well established neighbourhoods does deserve some scutiny.”

Trustee Radwanski pointed out what he believed were problems still not addressed such as traffic concerns in the neighbourhood at the proposed location as well as the school being on the established flight path of 15 Wing. The location was not properly discussed in previous public consultations.

The COVID - 19 pandemic was highlighted by Trustee Radwanski as not addresed.

“Moving towards a mega school with 1000 plus students in a pandemic environment I believe this decision needs further scutiny. I believe it is one that should be measured and consulted with public health with regards to moving towards housing 1,000 students in one place given we are fighting a pandemic and we will be fighting a pandemic recovery for many years.”

In his final argument asking for board support Trustee Radwanski said the board needed to look at their foundation policies when making their decision.

“I think that we also have to remember in our foundation policies, policies one and two pubic participation makes better decisions, sharing information makes better decisions and establishing a process for public input is very beneficial so I would hope for support on this.”

Trustee Giselle Wilson said there has been sufficient public consultation and the project needed to proceed.

“I am a little bit confused about a lack of community consultation. I know there was community consultation. I attended it. I sat around a table with people, residents of South Hill who were excited about this opportunity and voiced their concerns and their joys at this opportunity. So I am completely baffled quite honestly that we are still talking about this. It is like every one of my communities would be thrilled at this opportunity and yet it feels like we are just dragging here in Moose Jaw,” Trustee Wilson said.

“That makes me upset for the people up on South Hill. I think we have a great opportunity here for these students and families and we need to find a way to move on and move forward,” she said.

Trustee Tim McLeod said he opposed the motion because it asked to re-visit the decision

“That was a decision that was already made long ago by this Board. I recognize Trustee Radwanski was opposed to that decision but the majority of the board passed the motion to pursue this opportunity. The Board has also directed Administration to pursue this parcel of land that was clearly identified as the preferred site and it was the safest site identified for students,” Trustee McLeod said. “I recognize Trustee Radwanski is opposed to the new school but with respect he needs to accept the democratic process and stop talking about motions made months and years ago.”

Trustee Mary Jukes said the public had been actively involved in the consultations.

“Members of the public brought it to the front and under review it came out as the best site and I believe we have listened to the public and encouraged them. But most importantly we listened to them,” Trustee Jukes said.

“For some reason this is the only venue this keeps coming up. I have never heard anything from the other school division (Holy Trinity Catholic School Division) and that there is reasons and things like that. I think we would because we partner with all four groups that are working together. So this is the only place it keeps regurgitating up,” Trustee Lew Young said.

Trustee Radwanski said that the public had little, if any, input into the final site selection but the decision was made at a back table at a public forum involving Moose Jaw Wakamow MLA Greg Lawrence.

“The site was not presented to the pubic as a whole it was talked about at a back table with Mr Lawrence (Moose Jaw Wakamow MLA Greg Lawrence) and Mr McLeod has made reference to that before. That Mr Lawrence had talked about it at the table…the public has not had the opportunity to view the Glendale site and look at the pros and cons of it. We have failed with consultation with the community,” Trustee Radwanski stated.

“Instead of building schools and adding on we are going to be paying for a subdivision we don’t need…I think it is a bad decision and the decision needs to be re-looked at,” he said.

In a vote of eight trustees against, one opposes and one abstention (Trustee Brian Swanson) the motion was defeated.

It also needs to be noted in documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Request by MJ Independent that the documents back up some of Radwanski’s claims in regards to the location decision appears to have been made during the actual public consultation period and the majority of the public attending the consultations were not informed of it.

moose jawSeptember 4, 2020