The public school board isn't likely to get any money from the province to build new schools unless it consolidates under capacity buildings.
Superintendent Todd Awender confirmed the reality to trustees Tuesday night in front of hundreds of frustrated residents from the Harrow and Amherstburg areas. Awender presented a recommendation to close Harrow District High School and Western Secondary School as part of a plan to build a new school in Kingsville while creating new programming elsewhere.
Vice Chair Alan Halberstadt knows the plan is a tough sell.
"The Harrow community, they're not going to grasp it very well if the decision is to close their school and I don't think there's anything we can do or say that's going to convince them that that should be the right thing to do," says Halberstadt. "Western is bit of a different animal, but they're a very strong school too."
Residents voiced their frustrations with the accommodation review process as Claire Salter from Harrow put it, "The board has done nothing but bully us for years."
Trustee Julia Burgess needs convincing administration's plan is the right one to get a new school in the area.
"I've heard that, 'We have to put it this way because that's the strongest business case,'" says Burgess. "I would have to be convinced that this recommendation actually puts us in a stronger business case."
The recommendation would see Harrow District High School and Western Secondary School close June 2016 with students moving into nearby schools while specialized programming would be divided up amongst area schools. Trustees vote on October 13.
Residents from the Harrow and Amherstburg areas press public school board trustees to keep their schools open at the GECDSB regular meeting on September 15, 2015. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
Residents from the Harrow and Amherstburg areas press public school board trustees to keep their schools open at the GECDSB regular meeting on September 15, 2015. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
Residents from the Harrow and Amherstburg areas press public school board trustees to keep their schools open at the GECDSB regular meeting on September 15, 2015. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
Residents from the Harrow and Amherstburg areas press public school board trustees to keep their schools open at the GECDSB regular meeting on September 15, 2015. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
Residents from the Harrow and Amherstburg areas press public school board trustees to keep their schools open at the GECDSB regular meeting on September 15, 2015. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
Residents from the Harrow and Amherstburg areas press public school board trustees to keep their schools open at the GECDSB regular meeting on September 15, 2015. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
Residents from the Harrow and Amherstburg areas press public school board trustees to keep their schools open at the GECDSB regular meeting on September 15, 2015. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
Residents from the Harrow and Amherstburg areas press public school board trustees to keep their schools open at the GECDSB regular meeting on September 15, 2015. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
Residents from the Harrow and Amherstburg areas press public school board trustees to keep their schools open at the GECDSB regular meeting on September 15, 2015. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
Residents from the Harrow and Amherstburg areas press public school board trustees to keep their schools open at the GECDSB regular meeting on September 15, 2015. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
