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DECEMBER 21, 2006 - NOTES FOR A SPEECH TO THE OCDSB REGARDING SOUTH NEPEAN SECONDARY SCHOOL |
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Wednesday, 20 December 2006 19:00 |
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CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY My name is Lisa MacLeod, the MPP for Nepean-Carleton.It is my pleasure to present to the Ottawa Carleton District School Board this evening on the need for a public secondary school in south Nepean.As many of you may know, South Nepean is one of the fastest growing communities in all of Canada. It has the highest birth rate in the nation. Presently three elementary schools in South Nepean, Adrienne Clarkson, Farley Mowat and Berrigan Elementary, will teach over 2,000 students this year. Those students will have to be bussed 45 minutes outside of their school zone to attend secondary school or they will choose to attend a secondary schools operated by another board if this school is delayed or not built.For the last month, I have been introducing a community driven petition into the legislature calling for this new school to be built. It has been signed by over 2,200 residents of this City.For your records, I have included a package containing all my comments in the Ontario Legislature regarding our school.The Minister has indicated to me that this school would receive new pupil funding, that she would not interfere with the building of this school and through her announcement on October 31, 2006 we are all aware that by lifting a moratorium on closing schools the Ottawa Carleton District School Board is now able to close and sell schools in less populated areas to fund this new school.I understand the motion before us is to scale back the price tag of the school. I urge Trustees not to support this motion.My reasons are as follows: - It would pre-empt the decision making process that was approved in October, 2006 and would automatically delay the building of the school until at least September, 2009;
- It would mean students would require accommodation elsewhere for the 2008-2009 school year;
- South Nepean students and their parents would still be faced with either being bussed 45 minutes outside their school zone or attend secondary school in another board;
- The figure of $37.5 million appears to be rather arbitrary; and finally
- There is insufficient time for my constituents to respond. According to the original board decision of October 2006 residents in South Nepean were expecting this new school to be debated in February, 2007.
I understand, like all school boards across our great province, the bottom-line is important, especially during the upcoming budget deliberations. I certainly intend to be active in the Progressive Conservative Caucus this January and February as we prepare for the 2007 Provincial Budget as well as the crafting of our 2007 electoral platform on the needs of our students in this community. I urge you to consider the opportunities which will be lost for students in South Nepean if you support this motion.Thank you.
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