Though there were some in favour, most families voiced concerns around the impact of a potential change to Pembina North Community School’s attendance area during an April 19 public meeting at Westlock Elementary School.
About 20 residents turned out for the meeting, which was one of two hosted last week by Pembina Hills Public Schools — the second meeting was hosted at Barrhead Elementary School on Wednesday.
Pembina Hills is currently reviewing a total of 18 proposed changes to attendance areas throughout the division. The two meetings were part of an overall public consultation that included an online survey.
A report detailing the input from these meetings was set to be published on the Pembina Hills website April 25, while trustee will make a decision on the 18 proposed changes during their April 27 meeting.
Pembina Hills board chair Jennifer Tuininga indicated that some of these changes are being considered largely to keep all their schools viable.
“When student numbers drop, we struggle to provide the programs our students need and deserve, and in a worst-case scenario, we are forced to consider closing schools,” she said.
“Are these proposed changes controversial? Yes. Will the proposed changes be disruptive? Yes.
“But given our wish to see our schools thrive and survive, we do want to explore these proposals.”
In other instances, the attendance area boundaries are being moved away from rural roads so that buses transporting students to different schools don’t end up travelling down the same roads, she said, adding it will also make it more clear what school a student is supposed to attend.
“Depending on what the final decisions are, the whole transportation system may need to be reworked,” she said.
During the April 19 consultation, the majority commented on a change to the PNCS attendance area, which would absorb a portion of the WES and Eleanor Hall School attendance areas.
There are 59 students currently residing in the affected region, but only 29 would have PNCS as their new designated school.
The rest are in Grades 9-12, are enroled in programs like French Immersion, or attend Neerlandia Public Christian School or PNCS.
Parents who were opposed stressed that they wanted to keep their children with their current friends at WES.
They also wanted to maintain their quality of education and offer their children the range of choices for extra-curricular activities available in Westlock.
Others expressed concern with the alternate calendar at PNCS, indicating it would be an added financial burden if they had to arrange for child care on weekdays when the school was closed.
There were also the logistical concerns of having to drive to Dapp to pick up their kids in order for them to make hockey practice.
But not everyone was opposed; there were a few parents who were very positive about the change and eager to send their children to PNCS.
One family stated they had a good experience learning what was offered at the Dapp-area school and suggested the division should consider communicating what was available there.
There were also a couple of parents present who sent their children to St. Mary School in Westlock, but would nonetheless be affected by the proposal.
Len Jennings, who looks after his four grandchildren with his wife, said they currently ride the bus for free to Westlock as Pembina Hills maintains a transportation agreement with Evergreen Catholic, the division that runs St. Mary School.
With the attendance area change, those buses would no longer run to Westlock, and while spots on transfer buses might be available, he was told they would cost extra.
Jennings said he had previously home-schooled the children and might consider doing so again if they didn’t have bussing.
Another parent who had two children attending St. Mary School said that it wasn’t right to force public school children into Catholic schools or vice versa.
Despite most of the focus being on PNCS, a handful of parents also expressed concern with proposed changes to Busby School’s attendance area.
Mostly, they had issues with Westlock absorbing the Pickardville Coal Mine Trailer Park from Busby, which would affect two students.
Busby resident Rod Kaliel questioned why Pembina Hills was funneling more kids into Westlock when it’s at full capacity.
It should be noted that Busby is also potentially absorbing a small portion of Dunstable and Eleanor Hall’s attendance areas, which would affect five students.
A number of people asked about potential “grandfathering” exemptions to allow students to finish out their time at their current school.
