The Peninsula Action Committee for Education, based out of the Northern Bruce Peninsula, has completed a survey on schools as anchors in rural communities.
Spokesperson Patricia Grieg tells Bluewater Board trustees that the debate on the subject, needed to look beyond any Accommodation Reviews that might be going on and relate it to the broader community issues.
Grieg says “The data is relevant to what people are concerned about during an ARC, but we’re not making the case for or against any specific ARC.”
The survey focused on communities in Northern Bruce Peninsula and they want to report to the province that it actually makes a difference if you take a school out of a rural community.
Grieg says such a move has multiple ripple effects on a community.
She says that link of information does not exist in provincial policy.
However, Grieg points out that “If a community hub does not have a school in it, it’s not the end of the world however, if a school closes it is a major setback.
She says that point must be made to the province before policies are made on what rural schools should close or remain open.
Grieg says over 600 comments were made within the survey filled out by 298 recipients.
She says that represents about 15% of the households in Northern Bruce Peninsula.
55% of those taking part were elementary school parents while 44% were parents of secondary school students.
Grieg says the results of the survey will be delivered to the Rural Ontario Institute.
She says that group is dealing with a larger project called Measuring Rural Vitality.
Grieg believes there’s a renewed interest throughout the province on the importance of a thriving rural community and the importance of schools as a part of it.
