Blyth School Review - A Hoax?

If the Ontario Ministry of Education and the Avon Maitland District School Board thinks that the announcement of a review of the decision to close an essential school is putting us off our guard, they should think again.

Sure we will discuss the matter with a "facilitator" in good faith, but we know now that the track record for these events is not encouraging. The stated purpose of the review according to the press is to determine whether the process followed by the board was consistent with their policy.

We really don't care about AMDSB policy. If it was policy that made the decision then the policy is wrong because closing the Blyth School is WRONG FOR BLYTH. We question this board's competency to formulate a reasoned policy, let alone follow one.

If past history is repeating itself here, then the following statements will be true:

* The board has no intention to reverse the decision regardless of what comes out of the review
* They have already decided on the wording of the announcement to confirm their decision

Pay attention, AMDSB. These facts are also true:
* if by chance the review surprises us and seems to offer hope, we are not going to relax, but will watch you like hawks now that we know what kind of people you are.
* if the closure is confirmed, you will not have put this matter to rest. You will have merely lit a new fire which will haunt your organization until matters are set to rights.
* you will have spawned a movement which will be prepared and skilled at thwarting all kinds of assaults from governments at all levels which, like yours, has no comprehension of community values and integrity.
* that movement will spread across this province and this country so that its power will surpass the power of our large urban areas.

Brock Vodden