Parents of students at St. John Bosco Catholic Elementary School in Woodbridge held a protest today to speak out against a plan to convert the building into a French immersion facility.
Though a final decision on the fate of the school won't be made until October, some parents said they are concerned about the possibility their children will be forced to change schools if the conversion plan is approved. Students who wish to continue in the English program would be relocated to St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Elementary School which is about one kilometre away, in the Weston and Langstaff roads area.
“They want to move us to a tighter subdivision, more traffic, cars and walking. It's a nightmare there,” parent Leanna Santorsola told CTV Toronto on Tuesday.
The changes are part of the Pupil Accommodations Reviews by the York Region Catholic District School Board. The review is supposed to help the board make more “efficient use of school space,” according to the government’s website.
Closing and consolidating schools were listed as the review’s biggest responsibilities. Part of the process also includes discussing the changes with the community.
However, the protesting parents said they do not agree with the board's plan for the school.
Outside the school on Tuesday morning, parents held signs that read, “We love Bosco” and “Open and English.” Some chanted, “Keep it English!”
One mother said she was concerned with changes to St. John Bosco’s program for students with special needs. That program would also be moved to St. Gabriel, according to the board, but Linda Calabros said the changes will be hard on her son who has autism.
“My son made friends here," she said. "(He’s) comfortable with teachers. To even try to talk to him about moving is very upsetting."
The board said the 6,000 empty student spaces end up costing millions and they have very few choices.
“That’s $5.5 million that doesn’t get funded for by the ministry. That’s money to heat and clean empty classrooms. That’s money that could be put to better use to support student achievement,” May Moore, spokesperson for the York Region Catholic District School Board, told CTV Toronto Tuesday.
In a written statement, the board said that they understand the review can be an “emotional process for school communities.”
“Attachment to a school can make consideration of any change difficult, however... The Board must address declining enrolment and underutilized schools to ensure it is using all funding effectively to support student learning and achievement,” they said.
Parents said they hope the board will change their minds so next year’s first day of school is a better one.
Three other schools in the area are also under review by the board.
The community and the board are set to discuss the issue at a meeting set for next week.
With files from Naomi Parness
