The province announced June 28 it's putting a temporary halt on any new school closings in the near future, but schools already slated for closure aren't getting a reprieve, said Education Minister Mitzie Hunter.
The temporary moratorium has been enacted as the province overhauls its accommodation review process.
Education Minister Mitzie Hunter told reporters during a teleconference question and answer session June 29 she won't require school boards to revisit decisions they've already made regarding school closures.
“It's important to note if there are reviews that are in process and have started, they will continue, and boards can continue to complete those processes,” Hunter said.
That includes the planned closure and consolidation of several Rainbow District School Board schools after a controversial accommodation review over the past school year.
People for Education also reports that 121 schools are slated for closure across the province as a result of accommodation reviews.
The moratorium on accommodation reviews also comes with an announcement of a $20 million fund for rural and remote boards to use as they see fit, for anything from transportation to skills programs to improved Wi-Fi.
Hunter said a looming provincial election in 2018 isn't the reason behind the province's decision.
She said the moratorium is as a result of consultation with parents, teachers and community leaders this past spring.
“I also want to be clear that we've heard directly from communities that the improvements are needed with the pupil accommodation review,” Hunter said. “We've done the consultations and engagements across 10 communities.”
The review of the accommodation review process, which will involve consultations with education stakeholders, will take place over the course of the fall, Hunter said.
“I don't expect it will be longer than a year for that to take place,” she said.
Hunter said the province is looking at spreading out the accommodation review process over a longer period of time so board can consult more with the community, and consider options beyond closings, such as community hubs.
The province already overhauled the accommodation review process about two years ago.
When asked why the province is looking at the issue again, Hunter reiterated that this was what she was asked to do in recent consultations.
Previous accommodation reviews carried out by local school boards actually involved a committee of community members coming up with options for school closures and consolidations.
The Rainbow board's review this past year skipped the step of community members providing recommendations, and involved the board laying out what it planned to do, and then getting input from the public.
Hunter was also asked why this decision was not made earlier, given the large number of school closures underway.
She didn't provide a clear answer, other than to reiterate what she'd heard during the consultations. “We undertook those engagements,” she said. “We have listened to the feedback we received.”
Opposition parties are sharply criticizing the province on this issue.
PC Leader Patrick Brown said the plan does nothing for schools across the province that are already on the chopping block.
“Now, a year out from an election, they have apparently changed their minds,” he said. “Rural and Northern Ontario have been nothing but an afterthought to this government. They only seem to acknowledge their assistance when an election rolls around.”
Ontario NDP education critic Peggy Sattler said the province's announcement is “cold comfort” to communities that have been hurt by school closures.
“Premier Wynne has done lasting damage by failing to properly fund Ontario’s education system and by slashing millions from the geographic circumstances grant that supports rural and northern schools,” she said.
“300 schools across Ontario are currently on the chopping block under Premier Wynne’s watch, and won’t be saved by today’s announcement. The last time the
Liberals overhauled school closure guidelines, even more schools were closed with families and communities given less say in the process.
“New Democrats have called for a complete moratorium on school closures and a full review of the funding formula and accommodation guidelines. Premier Wynne doesn’t understand that closing schools hurts students, their families and our communities.”
