A group of parents are not happy about a recent decision made that will affect several students currently attending Waterford Public School.
Brandon Wagenaar has children who attend Waterford Public, and he says that there is no disputing the fact that something needed to be done regarding the over capacity there and the multiple portables brought in the handle the amount of students.
That being said, he and several parents – especially in the Yin subdivision, feel a decision was made from an Ad Hoc committee that may help with the numbers but doesn’t look at the whole picture.
It’s been known that changes needed to made for sometime now, and with certain schools under capacity nearby, the government would not approve any funding for future projects at Waterford Public for expansion when space elsewhere was available.
A group was created to look at this, including trustees – though Wagenaar noting not the Norfolk trustees – as well as public meetings on the matter.
Ultimately, out of several options, one option was selected by a group of individuals – but not the Norfolk trustees or the public.
He added that parents from Boston have contacted him as well stating that they are not happy with these changes either.
This move would bring Boston Public School to 111 per cent capacity and they would need to bring in two portables accommodate the students.
Though, it is noted in the plan, that they anticipate enrollment to go down in Boston over the next few years which they believe would bring it below 100 per cent capacity.
With that, this group of parents don’t feel that making another school go into overcapacity in order to make another under capacity is the right solution.
Wagenaar said a lot of the concerned voices he is speaking to come from that Yin subdivision, because of how close they are to the school now and the fact that many family moved there for this very reason.
Wagenaar said a few families are also struggling with the fact that, come this September, they’ll need to arrange for new before and after school care.
Waterford Public offers this service, and he says Bloomsburg does not.
A big point that has ruffled a few feathers is the fact that there a subdivision being built in town, further away then Yin’s, that will continue to have future students attend Waterford Public.
The families in this newer subdivision would have students already able to take the bus to school because of the distance away.
Parents rallying for change think if those future kids who have to go onto a bus already should be taking that bus to a nearby school that isn’t Waterford Public as they’ll be starting fresh, instead of uprooting families with deep ties into the community and the school right now.
Looking at graphs that they put out during these former public meetings, it did show this solution would keep every school under capacity, but there wasn’t much wiggle room for any school should there be a spike in population growth.
Wagenaar said while the parents who have come together against this idea feel that their suggested changes make sense on paper, it also makes a lot more sense on an emotional level.
A petition has been sent out to the school board and local politicians in hopes that changes may be made before this coming school year.
We do plan on chatting with the GEDSB about the proposed changes tomorrow and how these decisions were made later this week.