To:

The Government of Canada, MP Mac Harb 
The Government of Ontario, MPP Richard Patten 
Regional Chair, Ottawa-Carleton
The Ottawa Carleton District School Board
McNabb Park School Council - Annie Deutsch

REGARDING THE CLOSURE OF McNABB PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Sir and/or Madam:

In preparation for upgrading my educational qualifications in forensic
psychology, I have been a volunteer assisting in a split grade 1 and grade
2 class at McNabb Park Elementary School.  My professional experience is
that of a criminal analyst, my previous internship in psychology in 1980
and 1981 included working within the Ontario educational system in an
elementary school setting, prior to the establishment of bills of rights
for gifted and special needs students.

When I learned of the recommendation for closure of McNabb Park Elementary
School, I was stunned.  In my previous internship, many of the points I had
idealised for a school that would provide the best quality of education by
focusing on the needs of the child and without bureaucratic interference
imposed by the needs of a board or even of the teachers, were met in this
unique school.   After my initial reaction, I decided to review the
available information on the school closure, deciding that I wasn't aware
of all of the variables that led to this decision, and perhaps an objective
look would facilitate an understanding of the overall closure
recommendations. 

I was aware of, and even in agreement with, the need to reallocate school
space based on student, educational and fiscal requirements.   I was also
aware that there had been further review of the student-space ratio
formula, and a year grace period granted by the Ontario government prior to
finalisation of recommendations for school closures within the
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (the Board) boundaries.  My
understanding was that the Board had stopped the work of the Community
Working Groups because of the grace period, so that the formulae and new
requirements could be properly assessed, and viable options and
alternatives could be provided to the community.  

All of the above was reasonable.  However, the Board, without consideration
or consultation, arbitrarily declared that ten schools (eight of which were
NOT recommended for closure by the working groups), were to close.  This
appears to have been done without due regard to future requirements,
socio-economic impact on the communities and for the student relocations
and any special needs programmes that would be required to meet the needs
of the students of this - or any other - school. 

When I looked at the Committee Working Group papers, I learned that the
McNabb facility was leased by the Board to the year 2019, partnered with
the McNabb Park Community Centre.  I spoke with a representative of the
Board Planning Department, who advised me that legal staff were looking to
see whether leased property contracts had clauses for this eventuality.  My
observation is that contracts for leased facilities should have been
reviewed before recommendations were made.  If the contract cannot be
broken, the opportunity cost of keeping the school open is nil.  This
carelessness by the Board would result in taxpayer dollars being paid for
their lack of foresight.

I asked the same individual whether the socioeconomic aspects had been
considered.  She advised that this was alluded to in the report to the
Trustees, and offered to send a full report to me.  The Board's Report
98-371 dated 24 November 1998 indicates that submissions from the community
working groups had been received and distributed to Trustees; the Community
Working Group paper (attachment two) notes that there was 'constant
suspicion that the Study exercise was merely a ruse to justify decisions
and school closures already made, on a financial basis alone' which eroded
confidence in the information given to the Community Working Groups.  The
paper also referred to the lack of education provided to Community Working
Group members and the inadequate resources and information given to them.
Again, lack of proper research and planning could easily have severe cost
repercussions for the taxpayer.

McNabb Park School is crucial in the provision of a thriving downtown
residential core.  The socio-economic impact of closing McNabb Park school
will be disastrous.  This school is in the heart of an urban community
encompassing a wide range of economic scales, including immigrants,
families on social assistance, and some families whose children are
considered to be in high-risk family situations - all extremely vulnerable.
 In many cases, it must be viable for the parents to be within walking
distance to the school because of lack of transportation access.  I was
advised that this had been considered, but no options were forthcoming; the
issue was sidestepped by a comment that the children would only have to
move schools once.   When I asked whether there were firm plans of action
for student relocation, and firm plans of action for bussing and
multiple-language communication capabilities, I was told that the
information would be provided to the Trustees later. The nearest school to
McNabb Park is Cambridge Street School, which would not be able to
accommodate the overflow capacity from McNabb Park School.    Report 98-371
notes in regard to McNabb Park School that 'further analysis is required in
order to develop an appropriate accommodation plan…adjacent school
attendance boundaries and/or programs be modified…appropriate location…is
subject to review'. This is unacceptable.

The large, multi-ethnic immigrant community around McNabb Park School
integrates through their children at the school, meeting other parents of
their own and other cultures.  The proximity of the Community Centre means
that information in every possible language is available to the parents
and, for that matter, the students, to assist in the Canadianisation
process.  Many of the immigrant community do not possess the communication
skills to make their views known, or may afraid to state them.

The McNabb Park area is bordered by variable social problems, including
prostitution and drug abuse/use.  Some parents are involved or affected by
illegal activities and/or substances; their children are in extreme high
risk.  Without the school's proximity, and early intervention philosophy,
these children would feasibly fall through the cracks in a
non-neighbourhood schooling situation.  The staff of McNabb Park School are
aggressive in their concern for and monitoring of their students; they work
extremely closely with social agencies to ensure that all that can be done,
is done, for the children.   I have never before seen such dedication by an
entire teaching staff.

There appears to have been negligible research or analysis done on the
economic consequences to the community of this school closure - the impact
on the business entities such as day care providers that have, in some
cases, located within the community to provide service near the school.
Nor have any numbers been provided to the public to assess the cost
benefits of closure of this school, compared to a school in a fully
commercial area whose assets could be sold off, neither in a long-term nor
a short-term assessment.

There have been no publicly published assessments of property values owned
by the Board, nor any monetary values in pro or con situations given as
justification for any school closures.  There is no Board-owned property
value to McNabb Park School, but there are wonderful facilities including
large play areas within the community park, skating, green fields and
playground facilities that have an opportunity cost of zero.     

These can only benefit the children who learn to play together within this
wonderful setting.  This inner city area is enriched by the students and
their families who are vigilant in the protection and concern for their
children, maintaining a safe facility for all-year play, learning and
leisure.  The school/community centre partnership encourages the
integration of all newcomers to participate.  Closing McNabb Park School
would certainly be pivotal in turning the area into an urban blight without
the incentives of the parents and the community to maintain the safety and
cleanliness of the community for the sake of the children.  

It would seem more logical to maintain the status quo of McNabb Park
School, adding more students from overcrowded schools within a common-sense
ratio, including expansion of  special needs and gifted programmes to allow
the use of current, cost effective facilities that would let the school
keep on doing what it does best - providing the best education possible for
the attending children.

This methodology imposed by the Board is ludicrous.  No business operation
would be made without viable scenarios, impact statements, and at least
two, and preferably three, options from which a plan would be selected.
The impact variables would have been researched, studied and considered.
Each option would clearly list the benefits of any closure - fiscal,
social, and any other area of impact would be determined prior to a plan of
action being selected.  The methodology the Board seems to be providing is
not only arbitrary, but obviously does not consider the needs of the
clients - the students - as anything but statistics to be controlled by the
service provider.  

I find the arrogance of the Board overwhelming.  The Board and Trustees are
servants of the people; through their actions they have deliberately denied
the people the right to speak by cancelling the community working groups
(obviously ignoring their input to date) and making in-camera decisions
that affect the community without regard for the effects these decisions
may engender.  They have refused to allow proper socio-economic research
and analysis to either be done by or provided to the community - despite
being given the time by the Ontario government to do so, and have hijacked
community and students needs in favour of their own agenda.
 

Karin-Anne Duncan