On behalf of the Chair, High School Task Force.
 
Dear Friends,
As you may recall, the February meeting of the Business & Facilities Standing Committee was abruptly cancelled. The next meeting of this committee is scheduled for Wednesday, March 7^th at 6:00 p.m. in Midhurst at the Education Centre of the Simcoe County District School Board.
 
In January, the Ministry of Education wrote the Board approving their request for funding a new elementary school in Wasaga Beach. The Minister also directed the Board to work with the Town of Wasaga Beach to acquire the land for a new high school. The ministry specified that it was setting aside the funds for said land purchase. So far, the School Board has not moved on this funding offer from the Minister.
 
The team of trustees and staff at the S.C.D.S.B. projects an attitude towards the idea of a high school in Wasaga Beach that is a mystery to everyone outside of the School Board who looks into the matter. In response to queries, members of the Board continue to give the following reasons for their position:
 

• 1200 (recently, the number used was 850) students are required to build a high school..

The ministry responds that they fund schools of all sizes.

• Building a high school in Wasaga Beach will harm high schools in neighbouring towns. So we hired a highly respected third party company which studies demographics which prepared a thorough report debunking this notion.
• A school of 600 students would offer an inferior choice of programs. Our task force studied the program choices of 5 high schools in our vicinity ranging from 300 to  1420 students and found no significant lack of programming in smaller schools. Experts have concluded that the ideal high school population is from 600 to 900 students and for most students, smaller is better.

 
In conclusion, it is imperative that the citizens of Wasaga Beach speak up on this matter. The Simcoe County District School Board is not taking Wasaga Beach seriously. Please consider attending this next meeting on March 7^th or communicate your unhappiness with the status quo by letter, email ,or telephone call.
Thank you for your continuing support.
 
Sincerely,
Andy Beaudoin
Chair
High School Task Force
 
 
 
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