The Regina Public School Board’s ten year plan, which included multiple school closures, was controversial from the outset. Tuesday night, the school board will consider a recommendation to retire the plan early. That has Bob Hughes shaking his head.
“At the time, they would not listen to reason. They would not listen to people,” said the grandfather. Hughes fought for Athabasca School to remain open for his four grandchildren.
“The whole basement was jammed with the community saying, ‘don’t close this school,'” he said.
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The Regina Public School’s Renewal Plan was drafted in November 2007, but the latest biennial review calls for its conclusion four years early. Advocacy group, Real Renewal is disappointed it didn’t end sooner.
“We went to them (the board) in 2009, and we showed them the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program numbers and we showed them the numbers coming out of the Regina General maternity ward. And we said, ‘You’ve gotta stop this. There’s a bulge coming,'” said Real Renewal spokesperson, Trish Elliott.
Elliott said the closure of seven schools has put more pressure on other schools, now seeing burgeoning class sizes. Real Renewal hopes that might mean re-opening some schools, particularly Dieppe School.
“They have a perfectly good school sitting there and I do believe the province has a right to say, ‘Why are you asking for new schools when you’ve got schools sitting empty?'” she said.
Neither the school board, nor the province would comment.
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