Calls of “shame on you” and “we’re not going to Erin” rang out from the gallery on Tuesday night after the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) approved a controversial French immersion boundary readjustment for Edward Johnson Public School in Guelph.
The decision, which will force Guelph-Eramosa students living east of Jones Baseline to move from the Guelph school to Brisbane Public School, then Erin Public School and later Erin District High School, has upset many parents since it was first introduced in late November.
And board concessions made on Tuesday night – to grandfather students and their siblings at King George Public School in Guelph for two years and also to investigate the possibility of a new French immersion program in Rockwood – did little to alleviate the concerns of many parents.
“It feels like a concession in spirit, but not in letter,” said a frustrated Darryl Leblanc after board trustees voted 6-4 in favour of the boundary change.
Leblanc, who has two children, one who will be immediately affected by the move, said he was “stunned” by the decision. He fears that in two years time his children will be forced to attend Erin schools, despite the unanimous decision by trustees to look into a program in Rockwood.
He was one of several parents who said they would seriously consider removing their children from the French immersion program altogether and also launching legal action in response to the board approval.
“It’s a decision I never thought I’d have to make,” said Trevor Kirk, whose three children will be separated by the move. “But we’re definitely not going to Brisbane.”
Added Leblanc, “We haven’t given up, We have not conceded defeat at all … We’re going to seek legal counsel on this matter.”
The board proposed the changes due to overcrowding at Edward Johnson – its current capacity is about 280 students, while enrolment is approximately 390 – which will only get worse with the arrival of full day kindergarten students at the school in 2013.
A Dec. 13 board report stated moving the east Wellington French immersion students to Brisbane, and later to Erin Public and District High School, will “better utilize existing school capacity” in the Erin area.
On Tuesday night a dozen parents – of the over 50 in attendance – pleaded with the board to allow their children to attend King George as a “holding school” until a program is established in Rockwood.
But several trustees, including vice chairman Mark Bailey, insisted they have to heed warnings from UGDSB staff, who stated refusing to immediately alleviate enrollment pressures in Guelph would result in “dire planning challenges.”
Bailey said the only choice is to send the east Wellington students to Erin schools “for a year or two” until a program is running in Guelph-Eramosa.
“Any other solution jeopardizes that (Rockwood possibility),” he said.
Trustee Marty Fairbairn agreed with Bailey. He said approving the parents’ alternative would be akin to promising a French immersion program in Rockwood by 2014, and the board would be “under the gun” to meet that deadline.
Yet other trustees agreed with parents, who told the board the 28 students immediately affected by the move make up less than 1% of the French immersion population and thus could stay at King George without having a huge impact on enrollment.
“It makes it sound like we’re building a wall around Guelph,” said trustee Susan Moziar.
She added forcing Guelph-Eramosa students to attend Brisbane Public School would be “a travesty” and “the death knell” of the French immersion program in east Wellington.
“I think it’s ludicrous to suggest Brisbane has become the sudden incubator for French immersion students,” Moziar declared.
She also warned the move would serve notice to other rural students attending Guelph schools – those in Puslinch Township and former Guelph township, for example – that they should be prepared for a similar move shipping them out of Guelph.
Moziar and trustee Linda Busuttil said they are concerned parents would follow through with promises to remove their children from French immersion, rather than send them to Brisbane.
“I don’t think this is an idle threat,” Moziar said.
Trustee Bruce Schieck also opposed the boundary change, saying it is “imperative” for new French immersion students – those in kindergarten to grade 1 – to be able to attend a Guelph school in order to build a program in Guelph-Eramosa.
“What parent is going to send one sibling to Guelph and another to Brisbane?” Schieck asked.
He also added, “I believe we can grow this program in Rockwood and I want to give them the opportunity to do that.”
The boundary change ultimately passed by a 6-4 vote. Trustees Bailey, Fairbairn, Kathryn Cooper, Jennifer Waterston, Lynn Topping and board chairman Bob Borden voted in favour, while Moziar, Schieck, Busuttil and David Gohn were opposed.
After the decision at least one parent was in tears and several others were visibly upset.
Marcus Mielke told the Advertiser the decision means one of his three children could possibly attend five different schools by the end of grade 12 – Edward Johnson, King George, Brisbane, Erin Public and Erin high school.
“This is nonsense. What kind of system is this?” Mielke asked.
He said he feels “like a secondhand citizen” and he’s unsure what his family will do now.
However, a few parents were feeling a little more optimistic.
“I think it’s a step in the right direction,” said Jeremy Urwin, who was identified by UGDSB director Martha Rogers as a possible leader in helping to establish a French immersion program in the Rockwood area.
“I have a gut feeling the Rockwood Eden Mills community will embrace the French immersion program,” Rogers said near the end of the meeting.
She added the board would hire an outside firm to present a report – by August at the latest – on the level of interest in the program, as well as the necessary costing and accommodation data.
