Ontario puts as many as 300 schools on the chopping block

Hundreds of schools are under-utilized or dilapidated, says Education Minister Mitzie Hunter. But that doesn’t mean they will all be closed.

Thestar.com
March 9, 2017
By Robert Benzie

There are as many as 300 Ontario schools on the chopping block because they are under-utilized or dilapidated, says Education Minister Mitzie Hunter.

But Hunter cautioned that doesn’t mean all will be closed, noting only 19 were shuttered last year across the province.

“When it comes to pupil accommodation reviews and school consolidations, those are very tough decisions that school boards have to make,” the minister said Thursday.

“That’s in fact why we’ve put a process in place where they need to consult with municipalities, consult with their local communities,” she said, stressing boards of education - not Queen’s Park - make the call on closures.

Hunter, who was unable to say how many schools were threatened when asked by reporters on Tuesday, said local boards are currently conducting 43 pupil accommodation reviews.

“We know these are very difficult conversations for locally elected school boards to have with their communities,” she said, adding that although about 300 schools are being examined it’s important to maintain some perspective.

“In the 2016-2017 school year - through this very difficult process - we have seen boards decide to close 19 schools.”

Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown, who has been pushing for a moratorium on school closures, said not all that are being shut down because they are poorly attended.

“Our Lady of Peace ... in Maple -97 per cent full, both English and French immersion stream,” said Brown.

“But because of ... this government’s priorities, it’s going to close. The school will close in June,” he said.

“There’s an opportunity here. There’s an opportunity to put a moratorium.”

This summer the York Catholic School Board is closing Our Lady of Peace and the 272 students in the English stream are being sent to Father John Kelly while the 191 French students would go to Blessed Trinity.

Hunter pointed out that the Liberal government has spent $16 billion on education infrastructure since 2003, building 810 new schools and renovating 780 older facilities.

But NDP MPP Paul Miller (Hamilton East-Stoney Creek) said “since 2011, the Liberal government has closed more than 277 schools.”

“There have been more than 20 schools closed by the Liberal government in my community of Hamilton since 2011,” said Miller.

“Schools play an important role in Hamilton and everywhere else in the province. They support neighbourhoods. They bring communities together,” he said.

“Parents in Hamilton are absolutely furious to learn that the premier has been closing schools that are full. They are furious that the government modernization plan runs contrary to the stated community hub plan, and they know it. No one’s fooling anyone here.”