Why I am running for School Board

Below is a letter that I wrote to a trustee on the Regina Board of Education prior to a vote on the current 10-year plan.

I have added it to my blog because I think that it illustrates why I am running for School Board, and why I want to fight to protect and promote schools rooted in neighbourhoods.

Dear (Trustee),

> I am writing to you as a parent of three children, two of whom attend
> Ecole Connaught Community School in the Cathedral Area.
>
> Our children currently walk to and from school. Besides allowing them
> to gain exercise and fresh air and not emitting and carbon, these
> walks allow my children something even more valuable. Walking to
> their small neighbourhood school allows my children, as is does other
> children in the area, to be a vital part of their community.
>
> Our children know their neighbours. Not just on our street, but all
> the way to school. They know the names of the pets of many of our
> neighbours. They know business owners and librarians at the local
> library. They often pick up rubbish and we, on many occasions, have
> stopped to offer help to people along the way. People along the way look out for our kids.

Our children have pride in the community where they live. They are safer because they know the people around them. The neighbourhood is safer because people are out
> walking, noticing what is going on around them.
>
> I know all of the children in both my children's classes. I know most
> of their parents. I know all of the teachers and staff at the
> school. I volunteer a the school frequentlyand I am by no means
> unique. We have a great level of participation at our school and in
> our community. The school and the building that it occupies is a vital
> part of our community, not just for the parents and students but for
> the community as a whole. Our community "works".
>
> Under the 10-year plan, my children would be bused to Massey half-way
> across the city. What I have described above would be lost. It would
> be a loss to us personally to be sure. It would be a loss to the
> students and the community as well. But further, it would be a loss
> to Regina.
>
> All three levels of government are currently realizing that in order
> to meet challenges presented by fuel costs, health measures and the
> reality of global warming, we need to move toward "compact,
> sustainable" Cities. The Board's current plan runs counter to this goal.
>
> The plan targets, however inadvertently, inner city schools and
> schools with relatively high aboriginal populations.
>
> Regina and Saskatchewan as a whole are in a era of population and
> economic growth unparalleled in recent memory. In light of this, the
> provincial government has called upon board's to consider halting
> school closures until the Education Act can be amended.
>
> The projected enrolment numbers contained in the 10-year plan have
> been rendered do inaccurate as to be deemed not credible by many.
>
> Connaught's projected enrolment for the 2007-2008 year alone
> underestimates the student population by nearly 100 students. Census
> date recently released shows that the Cathedral area is projected to
> have increasing more school-age students over the next 10 years. No
> population is growing faster than First Nations families with children
> under five, yet this plan would see many of the schools with the
> highest proportion of First nations children closed.
>
> I recognize that you have difficult decisions ahead of you. Much time
> and money has been put into the Board's current plan. Sometimes
> leadership means admitting when you have started down the wrong course
> and finding the courage to set things right.
>
> Please reconsider.

Our communities need children, not buses.
>
> Sincerely,
> Carla Beck