Big Turnout For Small School Facing Closure

A crowd made up of around 100 parents and school district officials at the Medicine Hat High School caferteria Thursday evening for a consultation session on the future of Webster Niblock School. (Photo Alex McCuaig)

Thursday’s consultation meeting on the possible closure of Webster Niblock featured a bigger crowd than the previous evening’s session involving Southview Community School, but the message was largely the same.

Many parents expressed concerns regarding the possible loss of the school following a repeat of the previous night’s moderated workshop examining different aspects of a possible school closure.

Parent Nick Markovinovich said the meeting opened his mind as to possibilities but had some concerns about transition to a new school.

“What I’m worried about is people’s jobs – the teachers. As long as everybody put into a position, that’s nice. But if not, I rather the school stay open,” he said.

He added the meeting format opened his mind and, “I feel less concern a bit. Things will work out.”

However, other parents were somewhat more critical in their assessment of the exercise.

Mary Maki said she was hoping for more information.

“More actual statistics, how they got to the numbers they got to. Especially the deferred work that needs to be done at the school,” she said. “I would have also like to have seen more about what the conditions of schools are and more information on what they think might be negative impacts to students, positive impacts on students, what they are justifying this decision on.”

She added she felt the decision has already been made.

Ashley Ulrichson said the consultation didn’t ease her family’s anxiety over the situation.

“It was nice that we got to share our opinions and what we were feeling but it didn’t really give us any answers to what we’d be expecting if this does follow through,” she said. “Which is something I think a lot of us were hoping to have tonight.”

Michelle Hodgson said she was hoping for more of a question, answer format where parents could ask questions directly to school board members with equally direct replies.

“I feel this was theatrical, like they have already made the decision, and this is just a process that they have to go through,” she said. “And we really don’t want our school to close.”

School superintendent Tracy Hensel said she heard parents dig into what some of the challenges for their kids, “but also there were some people who saw some opportunities and had some a-ha moments around some of the numbers that they saw.”

Those numbers being presented included financial figures on required maintenance for schools, birth rates in the city reflecting a 25-year low along with declining enrollment.

School district chair Catherine Wilson said parents who feel they need more information should reach out to trustees or school district administrators.

“I think some things are still sort of uncertain for them,” she said.

But Wilson stressed the consultation meetings’ theme was to address issues children might have if a transition is required, “how will their child met new friends, lose friends, transportation. . .The child is the centre focus.”

Wilson reiterated a final decision has yet to be made.

That will come early in the new year following a review of material gathered from stakeholders by trustees on the future of Webster Niblock and Soutbview Community schools early next month.