Andrew School Junior High Classes Closed

Andrew Parents React to Closure of Jr. High Classes

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

Janell Yaremie, President of Parent Council, said she is upset that the closure was tucked into the high school consultations, as programing closures require public consultations according to the bylaws.

“The junior high did not receive any public consultations and if you read the previous proposal used from the high school the junior high is nicely tucked in there.”

I fear that Andrew school has the future of Willingdon school and its heart breaking. The town is not attracting school aged families and with that our little village will soon become a hamlet. A friend said to me, and it really struck me deeply. Andrew has a beautiful facility and it is going to be closed soon, and Smoky Lake is begging for a new facility.

As a mom, I am sad as my husband and his family has their roots on the walls and hallways of Andrew school. We looked forward to our children having that same legacy. I feel that it is not the case. I keep hearing that parents are the one who close the school, yet I feel that EIPS board is not really giving us the best options to not search elsewhere. With decreased funding our children are being left out. Parents are searching to allow their children to have the best of both worlds. Andrews education delivery is no different than that of the other school, yet the peers are decreasing which is not allowing children their individuality they so very much need. As a parent I seen that first hand with my son who now attends St. Marys in Veg. as the high school closure pushed us to make the choice to send him to a new school. Honestly it was the best thing for our son.

Is the closure of junior high the best thing for our students? It is not the best thing for our village but I do feel this is the best for individuality in the students. I am scared to think of what will happen in 2-5 years.

Parent Heidi Andruchow reacted to the decision by stating, “Last year, when the future of the high school was being debated, it became clear that the junior high would not be far behind. What I did not expect is that it would be so soon, not giving the school a chance to rebound, and that it would be done without any discussion with the community members.

We were under the impression that we had 3 years to rebuild, clearly the board had other ideas. I anticipate that the elementary will not be far behind.

What is clear to me in all of this is that the board does not care about the wellbeing of the students and that they do not understand rural communities. They do not seem to understand that the “options” they are so concerned about, most rural kids learn at home. Furthermore, I doubt they would want their own kids riding the bus for upwards of 3 hours a day.

One thing has become apparent, if rural schools are to survive, the delivery of education must evolve. If we have learned anything from this pandemic it is that the traditional brick and mortar school, at least in part, can be replaced with online learning. Our current board is archaic and too focused on finances and schools in the big centres, what they should focus on is alternative delivery of education.” Sharmon and Mike Donald, the parents of two elementary school age children, said families were not notified about the school division’s intent the until April 29th when they were informed that it was going to be presented at the next board meeting on May 11th. They also said there was never any consultation with the parents or community members about it.

On May 14th we received another email from the superintendent informing us that the decision had been made that effective June 30, 2020 that they had voted in favour to shut down the junior high.

“They are telling us that they had consultations and presented the information to us last year, they did mention it in the fall of 2018 that they were thinking about it, but he switched their main focus to only the high school, which we did lose effective June 30,2019.

We were told that we were going to get 3 years to try and bring numbers up and make it the best school, which it is an amazing school. Smaller class sizes allows our children more 1 on 1 learning, the only thing they loose out on is the options and a social life. EIPS closing our junior high is writing on the wall that within 5 years we are going to be loosing the whole school, this I don’t understand. Loosing the school in Andrew is a huge blow to our community, it is the glue that holds that community together and without the school, our community is going to die off. How EIPS was able to go through with this, without consulting the families is beyond me, it was a very low blow and makes me not able to trust our school division.”

Jodie Calfat and her husband moved to Andrew in 2006.. “My first experience with Andrew school was truly amazing. When I was at Andrew school for the first time it is a bright school. Everyone knew everyone. It was just a happy welcoming vibe for someone who was a total, stranger I was made to feel like I was part of the community. It was a great, feeling. It was such a different feel from the large schools I was at but was so very nice.

Coming from such a large urban center, Calfat said she was thrilled that Andrew School was so much smaller than what she grew up with, and teachers could do more hands on learning with the children because of the smaller class sizes.

“When we started hearing about the possibility of our high school closing, I was devastated. My oldest got very upset saying that, she did not want to leave Andrew and why was this happening. She said no one ever aked me if I wanted this. She was in grade 4 when it was all going on. She said mom this is crazy. Do the people in charge not care about children? Because is sure feels, like they don’t.

When we did lose the high school I think I t’s safe to say that, all the kids in my girls age group were very upset and scared. Their school was changing. No one ever talked to them that loosing the high school was possible. A lot of the high school kids would help out the younger children and it was such a very special bond. Something that could never happen in the larger schools. By loosing the high school we lost part of Andrew.”

She said they were “totally blindsided” by the decision because in 2019 that we would have 3 years to work on increasing enrolment and improving the junior high. When both my girls found out they came to me upset. The said mom why didn’t you tell us we might now lose our middle school also. This is not right it’s not fair. I said girls I just found out. It was never talked with by anyone about my thoughts and opinions on this matter. I dont believe any of the were. My children were also not asked if they thought a bigger school would be Better. I do t believe any parent in our grades were ever contacted to see what we thought.

Our family is devistated now that, we have lost not only our highschool but our middle school now as well. No person from the board has ever asked us what, we thought. What they did was sneeky rude and very much uncalled. Very unprofessional and truly did not do this for the better of our children. They have put all parents in a bit of a battle now as all the children in grade 6 now will have to see what, school they are going to now. My husband and myself have talked when we lost our high school what option would we do for our children and where they would go to high school and it will be to Vegerville. But now knowing that when they go to Grade 7 they will be on the bus for appx 90 mins one way. This is totally unacceptable for children of this age group.

We are so depply upset buy what they have done as it now feels like within a few years they will close Andrew school down as they have put almost all the nails in the coffin as they have for the most part Just killed Andrew. No one wants to move to a place where there is no school or to an area where young children will need to be on a bus for a long period of time. I am not sure what the parents are going to do but I do know we are upset and tired of being used by the school board.

I’m not sure what the future holds for both my girls but by the lack of support and a school board that makes us feel like they don’t care. I am not sure if I feel comfortable with my children going to school under the elk island school board. The teachers at Andrew school have been amazing. Always going above and beyond and I could not ask for better teachers for my children. It is truly sad when your school board fails you. I have lost faith in elk island school board. And am unsure of what, we will do for our children.