New Elementary School Funding Announced –

What's Different This Time?

different this time? First, we have a newly elected council in the first year of their term who won't allow this project to falter. Second, the amount of money allotted for the construction signifies the intent by both levels of government to create a beautiful space for our children, which can be shared by local adult groups and individuals. Thirdly, and no less important is the fact that there are many new faces on the school board. Fourth, incumbent trustees have already seen to it that most of the older schools in their towns have been replaced by new ones. We can only hope that those appetites have finally been satiated.

The province will spend $22..5 million while the town will contribute another $2.5 million in an effort to create a spectacular facility which promises to add to the quality of life of all our citizens. Notice that the Simcoe County District School Board is not mentioned in the media version of the announcement. This body is, at the very least, the vehicle through which the funds must travel. And therein lies the problem.

In January of 2018, a similar announcement was made. School Board planners went into high gear contacting our Town's planning department and letting officials know that they intended to fast-track the process in the hopes of a September 2019 opening. Then came the election of October, 2018 and we never heard of that project again. The old trope, “Elections have consequences”, was never so jarringly proven true.

So here we sit, five and a half years later, with a renewed promise. What is

We can expect that someone from the Simcoe County D.S.B. will blame one of our local developers for the five-year delay. The real reason is that the culture of that body was to game the province's funding formula by lobbying for capital grants to replace older schools operating at half capacity by brand new schools at full capacity. Closing two schools and building one new one with provincial dollars saved on operating costs and renovation dollars. Meanwhile, our kids were used to back-fill under capacity schools in neighbouring communities while our ratepayers provided a windfall of revenue from development fees and residential property taxes. Hopefully, that fever infecting trustees has finally broken. Times call for us to be involved and vigilant to ensure that this school gets built in due time. Let's also keep the pressure on until our local system is completed with the construction of a new high school!

Our Beach Kids deserve what kids everywhere else have. Our Beach Kids Matter!

Note: Your comments are appreciated. The column on the origins of the term “Beach Kids” elicited responses which confirmed my personal research and observations. Those were gratefully received. Every effort will be made to respond to your letters. (tochuckandrews@gmail.com)