I read with interest the article in The Citizen about school district superintendent Brian Pepper's response to the parent group's proposals to trim the budget. His response to the idea of reducing the number of administrators between the school level and the administration office was almost laughable. He basically brushed the idea aside saying it didn't save enough for the 2010-11 school year, so it's not something to be pursued.
Mr. Pepper is also quoted as saying "we cannot continue to operate buildings that need substantial mechanical and maintenance upgrades, or that have considerable numbers of empty seats." If this is the criteria, why is Central Fort George traditional school on the list of schools slated for closure? All major outstanding maintenance issues have been dealt with in the past few years, including a new roof last summer. The school is also full, with a waiting list of students. It is a choice school, with a majority of the students from outside the catchment area.
Closing CFG will very likely cost the school district money, not save it the $200k they are anticipating. The parents of CFG recently completed a survey to gather information. One of the questions asked the parents to choose where their children would go to school next year if CFG were to close. More than 50 per cent of the parents indicated their children would go to a private school or be home schooled. If all of these parents followed through, it would mean a reduction in payments to the district of more than $750,000. (BC school districts received average funding of $7,595 per student in the 08/09 school year according to the Ministry of Education website, and CFG has a student capacity of roughly 200 students.)
If CFG were to close, I would end up driving my children to school as I do not want my children crossing 5th Avenue during rush hour each morning. I've witnessed too many vehicles not stop for the cross walk. If I have to drive them, I get to choose where they go to school. The only public school in the area that I would consider sending them to is already at 130 per cent capacity so it's unlikely they will get into it. That will result in me registering them in a private school, which is fine. We have many friends with kids in St. Mary's and they all seem to love the school.
Keith Hampe
Prince George
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