Local MPP pleads for help with moratorium for NDSS
Kim Craitor says he has been actively involved in the battle to keep the town’s only secondary school open, but last week he put his support in writing, along with a plea for help.
The MPP representing Niagara-on-the-Lake says in recent months he has been going to meetings and talking with local municipal representatives and board members about possible solutions for the town’s plight. But with time running out for Niagara District Secondary School and a disappointing response from the minister of education to the request for a moratorium on disputed school closures such as NDSS, Craitor has written to ask her to reconsider in light of the unique situation in this community.
His request to Kathleen Wynne says that “without the opportunity to find a better process, Niagara-on-the-Lake will be devastated with the closing of the only secondary school in their community. A concern, as you know, I share as the local MPP.”
He said the purpose of the letter was not only to make Wynne aware of where he stands on the issue, but the community of NOTL as well.
Craitor says he allowed the accommodation review and the following discussions at board meetings to work their way through the process, but when the decision was made to close the high school if enrolment didn’t reach a board-imposed target of 350 students and the community began to take a leading role in finding solutions, he thought it was time to get involved.
He met over the summer with the board director and chair, but wasn’t happy with their response.
“I offered to do anything I could to help as an MPP, if there was something we could work on together, but their answer was, ‘no, we’ve made our decision,’” said Craitor.
“The community has some positive solutions, some pretty good ideas, and they're committed to their solutions, but they need more time.”
In his letter, Craitor said told Wynne that Niagara-on-the Lake “on a per capita basis has the highest level of education in the Niagara Region and contributes significantly more assessment than any other municipality in the region.
“One can understand their frustration at the current situation and their determination to maintain the institution that has successfully contributed to the quality of life that makes this community one that is envied by so many.”
Of four schools slated for closure in NOTL, he said, three are not being disputed.
“The (Community Schools)Alliance and the Town believe in the urgent need for a ‘smart moratorium’ on disputed school closings because the current process is flawed beyond repair,” he said.
And while he wouldn’t comment on other communities and their battles with their school boards, the situation in NOTL is unique, he said. The ministry’s draft policy of school community partnerships is an important step forward and the community has shown willingness to work with the board, but if NDSS is closed the policy will come too late to help NOTL, he told the minister.
“They passionately feel that the ‘smart moratorium’ is needed to give them time they need to effectively implement their ‘go-forward’ plan for the benefit of the community’s public school supporters.”
Although he has already heard from other residents who don’t agree with his message to Wynne, Craitor says as the representative from NOTL, “I have a sense of responsibility. I think it’s important to but it clearly in writing. Can we work something out? We’ll have to wait and see. It’s not frivolous or political. It’s something I believe in or I wouldn’t do it.”