KENILWORTH – Crystal VanGerven delegated to Wellington North council last week asking for continued support and to say a recent grant would be spent wisely.
VanGerven is the parent council member leading a fundraising campaign for new playground equipment at Arthur Public School.
The mother with children in Grades 2 and 3 at the school has become an outspoken advocate for playgrounds after Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) trustee Robin Ross delegated to the same council earlier this year.
Ross had suggested donated money would be better spent on programming and sports equipment than under-utilized playgrounds intended only for school students.
VanGerven is adamant money raised from the community isn’t exclusively poured into playground fundraising.
The parent council member has spoken of field trips, skating at the Arthur arena, and funding teachers’ asks and science experiments.
Sandboxes have been installed, as well as Gaga Ball pits.
The school has been without playground equipment for over a year after it was deemed unsafe and ripped out.
“Our kids had absolutely nothing to do while outside at recess,” VanGerven previously told the Advertiser.
“It didn’t sit well with me, and my kids deserve better than that, as do all the other children.”
Since taking on the role of fundraising committee chair last year, around $250,000 of a $400,000 total goal had been raised, VanGerven told the newspaper.
However as of her July 10 delegation, that number had since changed to $145,000 of the total goal, according to VanGerven.
She said another $90,000 was on the way from Musashi Auto Parts, but she’s awaiting “final confirmation.”
Wellington North council also voted in April to pitch in $5,000 toward the fundraising effort.
The Ministry of Education doesn’t provide school boards with any funding for playgrounds.
“The school board dedicates its use of capital funds on learning spaces and looks to school fundraising to support playground equipment,” UGDSB spokesperson Heather Loney previously said of the long-standing practice.
Loney also said that schools – through parent councils or other means – are responsible for “ongoing maintenance, repairs and upgrading of playground equipment or playscape elements.”
VanGerven told council last week that the board will occasionally provide funding to replenish wood chips, but said the money stops there.
Once the rumoured $90,000 donation arrives from Musashi, VanGerven told council she hopes to move forward on getting playground equipment for junior and intermediate students installed.
VanGerven also claimed that a statement by Ross, that it would be trespassing to use playground equipment after school hours, was incorrect.
However the board’s spokesperson has previously confirmed to the Community News that such a rule indeed exists, but isn’t enforced — aligning with what Ross had told council.
Despite that fact, councillor Sherry Burke thanked VanGerven for clarifying “misguided” comments made to council previously.
VanGerven said she hopes council will support school projects in years to come.
Councillors Burke and Steve McCabe congratulated VanGerven on the fundraising efforts.
Burke previously voted against approving over-budget grants for six first-time applicants, including the $5,000 donation toward the school playground.
However the councillor suggested the township explore purchasing land from the school board to install playground equipment for all to use.
