THE CORPORATION OF THE VILLAGE OF MONTROSE

 

SPECIAL MEETING #8-99

A Special Meeting of the Council of the Village of Montrose held in the Council Chambers on April 13, 1999, to consider a resolution in the matter of a cooperative agreement between School District #20 and the Village of Montrose for the purpose of preserving K-5 classes at the Montrose School

Present:                      Mayor M. Walsh

                                    Councillor R. Clarke

                                    Councillor G. Parker

                                    Councillor P. Stone

                                    Administrator A. Carrel

Absent:                      Councillor D. Berriault

                                    Call to Order

                                    Mayor Walsh called the meeting to order at 5:35 PM.

                                    School Agreement

Postpone Decision    Council determined that the immediate problem was the short notice provided to the municipality by the School Board of the planned school closure, and the absence of meaningful consultation for the purpose of exploring avenues to maintain an educational presence in the community.

                                    Moved by Councillor Clarke

                                    Seconded by Councillor Stone

                                    That School District #20 maintain Kindergarten to Grade 5 classes at the  Montrose School for the year 1999-2000 and postpone the decision on the future of the Montrose School to April 30, 2000, and

                                    That School District #20 and the Village of Montrose undertake to negotiate in good faith and urgency to find a way by which the operation of the Montrose School can be secured for the long-term.

                                    CARRIED

Alternative Closure  Considering the assumption that there is excess school facility capacity in the area, Council explored the feasibility of reducing the school facility capacity in the area by closing one facility and maintaining one educational facility each in Montrose and Fruitvale, rather than eliminating all school facilities in Montrose while preserving two school facilities in Fruitvale.

                                    Moved by Councillor Clarke

                                    Seconded by Councillor Stone

                                    That the Beaver Valley Middle School be closed, and that Grade 6 and 7 students be schooled in their respective communities;

                                    That the Grade 8 students from the Beaver Valley Middle School be moved to J. L. Crowe School until the new Trail Middle School is built, and

                                    That the savings realized from the closure of the Beaver Valley Middle School be retained for the benefit of the School District #20 as a whole.

                                    CARRIED

                                    Mayor Walsh opposed

Financial Support      Council considered the School Board’s limited fiscal autonomy, and the possibility of a cooperative partnership agreement with School District #20 for the purpose of securing long-term stability for the Montrose School.

                                    Moved by Councillor Clarke

                                    Seconded by Councillor Stone

                                    That the Village of Montrose and School District #20 enter into a partnership agreement in principle with the following objectives:

a)     That Kindergarten to Grade 5 classes be retained in Montrose for a period not less than 5 years;

b)     That School District #20 maintain the school and supply the teacher staff required to maintain the provincial teacher-student ratio;

c)     That the Village of Montrose compensate School District #20 for the cost of supplying such additional teaching personnel as may be required to operate Kindergarten to Grade 5 classes in Montrose;

d)     That any classrooms at the Montrose School not required for Kindergarten to grade 5 classes be made available to the Village of Montrose for revenue generating uses;

e)     That a binding agreement be signed by both parties by August 1, 1999.

                                    CARRIED

MLA Support             Council noted that the area MLA, Mr. E. Conroy, had received numerous communications from Montrose citizens, and that he had extensive discussions on the subject of the Montrose school with Village representatives, and that he has offered his support to the efforts to keep the Montrose School open, and that he has offered to assist the School Board and Council to find a way to keep the Montrose School open.

                                    Moved by Councillor Stone

                                    Seconded by Councillor Parker

                                    That the Board of School District #20 and the Council of the Village of Montrose request the support of area MLA Mr. E. Conroy to facilitate a solution to maintain the Montrose School.  

                                    CARRIED

                                    Adjournment

                                    On a motion by Councillor Stone, the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.

 

I hereby certify the preceding to be a true and correct account of the Special Meeting #8-99 of Council held on April 13, 1999.

 

 

 

                          _________________________               _________________________

                                                      Mayor                                                                Clerk