P.E.I. school review 'a sham,' opposition says

The Official Opposition on Thursday called the review of P.E.I. schools now underway "a sham," based on a recommendation to close small schools in a consultant's report commissioned by Education Minister Doug Currie.

The report, authored by Michael Fullan and Mary Jean Gallagher, concludes "P.E.I. has many small and undersubscribed schools that should be considered for amalgamation. Resources currently being spent on these buildings ... could be used far more effectively to leverage better learning for all of the Island's youth."

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Speaking on the floor of the provincial legislature, Opposition education critic Steven Myers said news of the report arrived like a "torpedo" in the middle of the school review process.

"Why would you go through this whole charade of having consultations and making people believe that you're actually listening to them, when all the whole time you were sitting on a report that you paid someone in Toronto $10,000 to write for you, that said exactly what you wanted it to say?"

It's a sham. And I feel bad for all those people who came and presented ... who cared a lot about their schools. Steven Myers

Currie responded that no decisions have been made on how to deal with problems of schools across the Island being over and under capacity, and that he supports to review process underway with the Public Schools Branch.

But he also said he supports the findings of the report, and that they are "very much part of the conversation" now underway regarding the school system.

"We have to look at how we spend public money," he said. "We have to look at how we get the best value in respect to in this case outcomes, and support students and educators in Island classrooms."

Rezoning, closures a possibility

The Public Schools Branch has been holding community meetings across the Island as part of a review of dozens of schools, some of which are operating well below capacity, some above. Rezoning, grade reconfigurations and school closures are all possible outcomes from the review.

"It's a sham," said Myers of the consultations. "And I feel bad for all those people who came and presented ... who cared a lot about their schools, who consulted among themselves to come up with ideas to present. ... How can [the report] be perceived as anything but a slap in the face to everyone who took part in that process?"

Currie noted any school closures recommended by the Public Schools Branch would have to be approved by cabinet.

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