Mill Village school spared by board

Former school board superintendent and consultant, Jim Gunn completed the School Utilization Report and submitted it to the school board Feb. 27.

On March 26 the school board passed the motion to review Milton Centennial School and Greenfield Elementary School.

The motion to review Mill Village Consolidated School was defeated.

“I am very disappointed in the board because I don’t think we should be in the review,” said Greenfield Elementary School Vice Principal, Marsha Freeman. “I really hope when we are reviewed again in 2009, that they will look at us and say, yeah this new school is innovative, it’s working, things are good and we’re very happy.”

Freeman noted the school was reviewed five years ago due to the poor shape of the building, which residents are working on by building a new school in the area for lease to the Department of Education, an effort that is saving taxpayers a huge amount of money.

“Maybe we’ll be taken out (of the review). That’s fine, but why put us through this when we have so much going for us?” asked Freeman.

Mill Village Consolidated and Milton Centennial School Principal, Pat Morash said, “I’m very pleased for Mill Village. It’s wonderful news for that community.”

As for the review on Milton Centennial, “I guess it didn’t come as a surprise they are moving forward; however, it’s certainly disappointing,” she added.

When the Dr. John C. Wickwire Academy opened in 1996, Morash said the intention was for it to eventually house Grade Primary to Grade 6 students, so the Milton school was more of a convenience than anything else.

Morash explained that over the last number of years the staff at Milton Centennial School has really come together.

“It was an accidental thing that Milton ever was formed and now we’re at the point we’ve actually become a specialist school and that’s what the community stands to lose,” said Morash.

South Shore Regional School Board Communications Officer, Paul Shields notes one reason for declining the motion to review Mill Village Consolidated School was to avoid putting the community through the stress again, as they were up for review five years ago.

He also noted the school is part of the accreditation program. Milton school is as well.

The next stage will be to complete a School Review Impact Assessment Report for the two schools, said Shields.

Greenfield Elementary School’s impact assessment report is due by May 31, 2009 while the Milton Centennial School’s impact assessment report is due May 31, 2008.

Shields noted it is possible that the impact assessment is as far as it goes for the schools.

If the board decides to continue the review, the next stage is community consultation, he stated.

A community committee must form by June 14, said Shields.

This committee must have its first meeting by June 30 and submit its response to the South Shore Regional School Board by Nov. 30, said Shields.

A meeting will then take place.

The school board has four options, he continued. They can decide to maintain the status quo, consolidate the school or part of the school with another public school, close the school or they can make any other decision authorized by the regulations, he explained.

With the next critical date being May 28, 2008 Shields said, “Those four options are really critical because people need to remember that school closure is not the only option.

“This comes out of a multi-year process of program review and at the end of the day our goal continues to be to establish sustainable quality education with equity for students,” he added.

Municipal and school board elections are also taking place Oct. 18, noted Shields.

Therefore, he said, it is possible those people sitting on the school board for the Nov. 30 meeting may not be the same individuals who are currently around the table, he said.

School board superintendent, Nancy Pynch-Worthylake “has made it clear with principals she is prepared to meet with any school or school community with concerns,” he added.