School closures debate in Hamilton

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board has made a decision on the fate of five schools in West Flamborough.

The school board has faced declining enrollment and aging infrastructure, and in an effort to save money its had to make the tough decision to close schools from rural neighborhoods to East Hamilton.

One Millgrove student wanted all 11 trustees voting to know how she felt about her school, and she wasn’t alone.

“I think its important for the trustee to know that each community needs to be treated differently. You cant paint all the schools in their board with the same brush,” says Stefanie Sheils.

The school board gets funding on a per person basis, it says these changes were long overdue.

“Declining enrollment has been happening at our school board for some time, we have had these difficult decision for some time and have not made them, were making them now,” says trustee Jessica Brennan.

The first part of trustee Karen Turkstra’s proposal asked for the closure of Dr. Seaton and Beverly Central, and have the two consolidate in a new 350 student school in 2016.

The second part proposed closing Greensville and Spencer Valley, and have them merge at a new building where Greensville used to be. The last part suggested leaving Millgrove school as is.

The entire proposal was voted in favour 10 to 1.

The HWDSB has 5000 vacant seats in its elementary schools alone. By closing and consolidating schools it will save millions of dollars.

Many supporting Millgrove believe their presence in every step of the process helped.

“The way the parents in the community rallied around the school and brought forward delegations and good reason for the trustees to reconsider what the board was proposing is what saved them,” says Judi Partridge, Ward 15 councillor.