Mississauga MPP raises concerns about school renaming
February 8, 2012
Kristin Rushowy
EDUCATION REPORTER
The MPP for Mississauga South has waded into the controversy over the secret renaming of Hartsdale Avenue school, saying trustees must listen to public concerns and resolve the issue.
“Families in my community have been raising concerns with me about recent decisions made by the Peel District School Board and its process in reaching those decisions,” Charles Sousa told the Star.
“Specifically, there are questions as to how open and transparent the renaming of schools and recent ARC (school closing) processes have been. As publicly elected officials, it’s important for trustees and the board to act openly and transparently.”
Hartsdale was renamed after current trustee and longtime chair Janet McDougald in a private vote by trustees in the middle of the school year. Parents and community members — even the local ratepayers’ association — were upset at the lack of public consultation and the secretive process.
They have started a petition and asked the board to reverse the decision, to no avail. Even Ontario’s education ministry has said it expects the naming process and vote to be public.
The board has since said it will discuss its policy but would not promise any changes.
Sousa, who represents the area where the school is located, said “while these decisions are the board’s to make, I trust the board will listen to the concerns of families in our community and ensure that these issues are resolved in the best interests of parents and children.”
The Peel board’s naming process stands in stark contrast to others in Greater Toronto.
The Halton District School Board is asking people to comment online, fill out forms left at area schools — even at the local library — for a new school in Burlington. They’ll also get a chance to speak out at a public meeting before trustees vote in April.
Even if the new school is to be named after a living person — as Peel argued was the reason for its secrecy with the McDougald vote — it still comes under public scrutiny.
The Durham District School Board is also asking the community to help find a name for a school in Ajax.
“The school will not be named after a current employee of the board or member of the board,” it noted in a news release issued Wednesday, which a spokesperson confirmed is a long-standing policy.