Better Farming February 2017

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RURAL SCHOOLCLOSURES
Since 2003, annual funding for rural school boards has
increased by $1.12 billion, said Heather Irwin, an
Ontario Education Ministry spokesperson, in response
to a Better Farming inquiry.
Irwin issued the statement after Better Farming
requested an interview with Education Minister Mitzie
Hunter, MPP for the Toronto-area riding of Scarbor-
ough-Guildwood. Irwin’s statement emphasized the
importance of co-operation among neighbouring
school boards in current accommodations planning.
“By coming together, and utilizing shared spaces,
some schools may be able to offer better program
options that would not be offered in a smaller class-
room environment,” Irwin’s statement said. She cited
examples in Sturgeon Falls where French- and
English-speaking boards share a secondary gym, library
and cafeteria facilities.
“This is about recognizing the need for Boards to
work with each other and their communities to find the
right solution to ensure students have the best learning
environments possible,” the statement said.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring
that students in rural Ontario have an equal opportuni-
ty for an excellent education,” Irwin said.
Part of rural education funding includes Grants for
Student Needs to offset higher-cost materials and
resources and declining enrolment. These grants have
increased since 2012-13 by more than $199 million.
Since 2003, per pupil funding has increased by
$4,508 (63 per cent), the ministry statement said. BF
School board co-operation and recent funding increases
benefit rural education, says ministry spokesperson
chunk of money and we would have
to work through one of the not-for-
profit organizations in the community
to donate our money,” Chapman said.
In early December, the family-owned
firm announced a 100,000 square-foot
expansion that Chapman figures will
add 100 employees within a year and
another 300 within five years.
A village school is “one of the basic
things to get people into the area,” he
said. Bluewater board enrolment
projections were based on a 2013
consultant’s report that Chapman
argues is out of date.
“Here we are three years later and
this community has changed; it’s
growing,” he said. BF