NDP Education Critic Rosario Marchese calls for a moratorium on school closures until Kathleen Wynne holds her planned 2010 review on the issue.

The Minister of Education plans to appoint a working group to examine the impact of declining enrolment on Ontario schools in 2010. But enrolment decline and the resulting lack of funding are forcing many school boards to close down schools before the review takes place.

“2010 will be two years too late to hold a review on the subject of school closures,” said Marchese. “Schools in many communities will be closed by then.”
In June 2002, the Liberal opposition regularly called for a moratorium on school closures. In fact, McGuinty asked the then Conservative Minister of Education, Elizabeth Witmer: does it not make sense to impose a moratorium on school closures at least until you have reviewed the funding?
During question period today, Rosario Marchese asked Minister Wynne about four particular boards with schools under review for closure: Algoma District School Board, Durham, Limestone and Sarnia.

“Government advisor Charles Pascal is considering teaching kindergarten outside of schools for lack of space,” said Marchese. “Why would you consider closing schools when we’ll need them to expand junior and senior kindergarten to full time, as you promised?”

A moratorium on school closings would save good schools which are integral parts of communities. The moratorium would also ensure that the decisions will be made in a responsible way as part of a full review in 2010.