Save our school

Dear sir:
The following letter was written to Premier Ernie Eves and Education minister Elizabeth Witmer:
Last spring, the Rainy River District School Board voted to close Alberton Central School in June, 2004 despite extremely strong opposition from residents of Alberton.
The board intends to bus Alberton students to J.W. Walker School in Fort Frances—a facility which allegedly requires significant expansion before it can accommodate additional students.
The board refused to give any weight whatever to the social, economic, or developmental impact that closure of Alberton’s one school will have on this community, thereby undermining the township’s growth potential by removing one of the prime features sought by residential and commercial developers alike.
The board also refused to acknowledge the school continued to enjoy a 71 percent occupancy rate in 2001—even after it diverted Alberton’s Grade 7 and 8 classes to J.W. Walker.
The reason cited for the closure of Alberton Centre was that repairs required to keep it open were too costly. The RRDSB estimated it would take $600,000 to do all essential and non-essential upgrades and improvements to the Alberton facility, with essential repairs being roughly $145,000.
It is worth noting that Alberton Central fell into disrepair because the board diverted funds allocated for its upkeep over the past 30 years to other district schools. The only maintenance to the facility since 1972 was a new gym roof in 1990, replacement of the balance of the roof in 1995, and replacement of windows in 1998.
In a few short weeks last spring, Alberton resident Danielle Robinson was able to secure pledges from the community and township totalling $11,000 in cash—plus donations of equipment and skilled construction, electrical, and plumbing labour—to help defray costs of the essential renovations.
It is certain that additional donations could have been found with more time. Yet the board remained adamant in its refusal to keep the school open, saying it had no funds for the repairs.
At the board’s public closure meeting last March, Alberton Coun. Bill Morrison concluded his presentation by saying, “Wouldn’t it be ironic if we all find out next year that you need another $600,000 to complete the Walker project—$600,000 that is more than enough to save Alberton Central!”
Murray Quinn, the board’s superintendent of operations, assured all present that this would not happen. But one year later, that is exactly what has occurred—and then some.
Although it could not find $145,000 for essential repairs to Alberton Central (less, if the donations were used), the RRDSB has now approved a $1-million increase in the budget for the expansion of J.W. Walker School, citing increased construction costs due to the mere passing of another year.
Construction on the project has not even begun. Further increases are likely, especially if this project is handled with the same fiscal irresponsibility as construction of the new Fort Frances High School, where cost overruns were outrageous, completely out of control, and resulted in the project finishing more than $8 million over its initial budget.
Council for the Township of Alberton views this entire situation as completely intolerable. Alberton residents do not deserve to lose their school at all—much less under these circumstances.
Accordingly, council requests you to take immediate action to intervene in this farce by requiring the RRDSB to reverse its decision to close Alberton Central and perform the essential repairs to Alberton Central during the summer of 2003 so the school, which offers quality education and unique learning opportunities in an excellent rural environment consistent with the nature and values of this community, may continue to serve residents of the municipality.
Further, council asks the minister to require that, prior to closure of any school, all Ontario school boards must produce, publish, and adhere to a definitive plan for the disposal of closed schools within two years of closure so monstrosities like the old Fort High School are not permitted to sit for years in dilapidated and continually deteriorating condition.
Respectfully submitted,
Dawn Hayes,
Clerk-Treasurer,
on behalf of
Alberton Council