'Sore' parents in Sudbury threaten to switch school boards
Rainbow Board stands to lose $12K for each student who transfers to Catholic system
With a board-estimated $12,000 price tag affixed to each student enrolled in the school, Chantelle Gorham said transferring boards — or threatening to transfer — may be the only way to ensure parents' voices are heard by administrators in the Rainbow District School Board.
"If we had the majority of our students move to the Catholic board, that then takes funding away from the Rainbow Board," Gorham said, "so, we're unsure of how to fight this, other than financially and I think that's what will get their attention."
Larchwood, along with 11 other schools in the Rainbow District School Board, is being considered for closure or consolidation by the RDSB, as it deals with a budget shortfall.
Gorham said that other parents who lost community schools told her that once accommodation reviews are in motion, there is little that can stop schools from being shuttered.
"There's little we can do as a school to get their attention besides transferring that money with us," Gorham said, "This will give us as much of a fighting chance as we've ever had."
Especially upsetting to Gorham was the board's suggestion they come up with alternatives to address the board's shortfall.
"We're sore that we're trying to come up with creative solutions...when there was a $4.4 million surplus last year," Gorham said.
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The board said in a statement that the accommodation review of the schools is in the beginning stages, and public meetings are scheduled to gather feedback on the proposed consolidation plans.
It also stressed that it's inviting parents to work with the board to be part of the solution.
With files from Martha Dillman. Edited/packaged by Casey Stranges