For people living on Big Tancook Island, being separated from mainland Nova Scotia has its advantages.
It’s roughly 100 full-time residents live an informal, if rugged existence. Many relying on the lobster fishery to make their living while enjoying the natural splendor of their island, which is “big” only in relation to the other 364 islands in Mahone Bay.
Policing is conducted at random, by visits from an RCMP officer who gets there just like everybody else – by ferry.
With their own elementary school, residents’ satisfaction with the education system is high.
“It’s like having my son go to private school,” said Pierre Moncion, whose son is one of only two students enrolled at the school.
“The student to teacher ratio is phenomenal.”
But, the ratio at one of the few remaining one-room schoolhouses in Canada doesn’t add up for the South Shore Regional School Board.
The two current students will be moving on to grade six in September, meaning they’ll attend school in Chester, an hour-long ferry ride away.
When only one child was registered for the next school year, the school board decided it was time to re-evaluate the school. Despite another child having signed up in recent days, the future of the school was put to a vote.
“Obviously, the low numbers was part of that reason,” said board chair, Jennifer Naugler.
Numbers aren’t everything
For a province in a big hole financially, keeping a schoolhouse open with only two students enrolled is tough to do. But, parents and others on Big Tancook Island say numbers don’t tell the whole story.
Long-time resident Hillary Dionne, who attended the school as a child, filed a report with the school board recommending they keep it open.
“It’s just a wonderful, wonderful part of this island, and if we lose our school, that’s going to stop the growth of the island potentially, because no young families are going to want to move here with their children,” Dionne said.
If the school were to close, young students would have to travel unaccompanied on a ferry to Chester each day for school.
The timing of the ferry crossings would either leave large gaps in their school days, or have them waiting for hours in the mornings for school to begin and in the afternoons for a crossing to take them home.
That reality brings about a sense of dread for the McLean family, whose 4-year-old son, Carson, is one of the students signed up to attend the Big Tancook school in the fall.
Hiring a guardian, at taxpayers expense, would cut into the cost-savings. They also wonder who would watch the children if they get stranded on the mainland when ferry crossings are postponed.
“Motion is defeated”
There were many factors to consider as school board members voted Wednesday in Chester whether to close the school for good.
One by one, board members weighed in with the final numbers coming to a 4-4 tie.
“A tie vote means the motion is defeated,” announced Naugler. “And that Big Tancook Elementary School will remain open.”
Overcome with emotion, Hillary Dionne hugged her husband.
“That’s over. That was too close for comfort,” she said.
The decision means the McLeans can stay on Big Tancook Island, preserving deep family roots they have there.
“Our whole way of life was at stake, and I’m super relieved,” said Tyrone McLean, who texted his wife, Amanda, a one-word message reading “OPEN!!!”
She had left the meeting, to take their 2 boys home to the island on the ferry, to be joined by him on a later crossing.
A journey of celebration and relief.