What then?

With the future of Our Lady of the Way School in Stratton still in limbo, the Northwest Catholic District School Board now is weighing the merits of consolidating St. Michael’s (JK-Grade 3) and St. Francis (Grade 4-8) here.
Given the multi-billion-dollar deficits the province continues to face, the Ministry of Education obviously is looking for any way to save money. As such, there’s funding available to entice boards to consolidate schools.
The key question, of course, as the Rainy River District School Board found out last year when it was looking at possibly closing Crossroads in Devlin and Sturgeon Creek in Barwick in order to build a new Donald Young School in Emo, is whether parents agree consolidation is the way to go.
Chances are they won’t—which likely will be the message the Catholic board gets from the two consultation meetings for parents, staff, and the community set for next week at the schools.
The board then faces the decision to abide by that feedback or forge ahead with consolidation regardless because, in the end, that’s what the ministry wants. Yet another classic case of he who has the gold (funding) makes the rules no matter what the parents feel is best for their children.
Time will tell how all this unfolds. But one thing is clear: if St. Michael’s and St. Francis ultimately are merged into one JK-Grade 8 facility, it will mean the loss of yet another school here in Fort Frances. And again, once they’re gone, it will be difficult to get them back.
That, in turn, is troubling if the district’s economic fortunes reverse and our population grows again down the road. What then?