School board must continue to lobby the province

The Near North District School Board must not become complacent just because it received extra funding from the province under the Rozanski report, says Near North District School Board chairwoman Eunice Saari.

If anything, Saari said in her inaugural address to the board Tuesday night, the Ontario government should be lobbied on a number of different issues also in the report, including increased funding for transportation, special education and salary negotiations.

"It is true that some of the recommendations from the Rozanski Report that have been implemented have assisted Boards in funding staff for smaller schools as well as programming for at-risk students,” Saari said

“However we cannot become complacent and must face the challenges ahead.”

There is optimism
Saari said there’s a list of items that need to be lobbied for, Saari said, among them: changing the “flawed” Ontario Curriculum for students in grades 9/10 “to create a clear path to grade 11/12”; the funding of full-time Junior and Senior Kindergarten “as a means to addressing literacy, numeracy and at-risk students”; addressing the issue of declining enrolment; seeking smaller classes “to ensure effective learning”; and a new funding approach to school renewal “that takes into consideration our many older school facilities.”

There is optimism, Saari said, that the new Liberal government will continue being “more open and collaborative with its partners as we more forward.”

“Restoring local democracy, by removing government- appointed supervisors from Ottawa, Toronto and
Hamilton has been a positive step,” Saari said.

“Abolishing the private school tax credits and the education property tax rebates for seniors have demonstrated to us that the government believes strongly in public education.”

Bonus for society
Saari then challenged trustees “to defend passionately” the public education system, “one that meets the needs of all students, one that is adequately funded and one that aims high in student achievement.”

Public education, Saari said, is an “equalizer” in society, “especially for those children who live in poverty and may come to school hungry.”

Anything the board can do to provide equity for these children, Saari said, “will be a bonus for society.”