re: High school closure process
The accommodation review committee mandate was to come up with a (as in one) recommendation to the public school board, but instead they came with four proposals (actually five if you include their proposal to the Westmount community).
Each proposal was not based on the data of existing structures involved; instead, they were influenced by where and when a new school would be built south of the Linc.
The city allowed the building permits for new housing without any provision for public schooling in that area.
Let the city and Ministry of Education worry about the new school; let the ARC focus its decision based solely on its review of the high schools in the established areas north of the Linc.
Why did the ARC even consider engaging the Westmount community on the possibility of shifting the self-paced program to Hill Park? Does anyone really think they will say yes?
Throughout the process, I had hoped ARC would rationalize existing schools on their own merit, ignore the shortsightedness south of the Linc, and would acknowledge that Westmount continues to be protected by the city and the board. With that understanding, the ARC would have presented one recommendation to the board to avoid any confusion on where they stand. I now doubt that will happen Monday.
Craig Hagopian
Hamilton Mountain