Rainbow School Board holds first input meeting: students, parents passionate about Lively high school

It was standing room onlyin Lively, Ont., for the first accommodationreview meeting held by the Rainbow District School Board.

More than 400 parents, students, and community supporters were at the public input session held at Lively District Secondary School (LDSS). Many of those in the crowd were wearing black and gold LDSS'Hawks' attire.

The board is holding six of these types of sessions this month to gather feedback, hear concerns, and listen to suggestions from individuals from the throughout the community.

The board is facing a $3.6 million dollar annual shortfall and is considering closing up to 12 schools.

Prior to the accommodation review meeting, some of the parents and students held a rally about a block away, on the corner of Main and Fifth Avenue in the town.

A few weeks ago, thestudents of LDSS walked out of class to protest the proposed closure of their school.

• Lively students fear school closure will 'rip out' heart of community

Parent Stacy Paajanenhelped organize Monday evening's rally.She has a son in Grade 10at LDSS. She also hastwo younger children whom she wants to attend the high schoolin the future.

"It's a way of life out here. It's pride. It's a feeling. I don't feel that when you live elsewhere that you take this with you. It's nice out here. The education is amazing. The people are amazing." says Paajanen.

Julie Rogers is also a parent of a student at LDSS and an alumni herself.She says the school is important to the small community.

"If he goes into a big school in town and that, they're not going to know who my kid is.He's just going to be another number. [The teachers at Lively District Secondary School]they know him,the teachers are local, they live here, they shop here. They're supportive for here." says Rogers.

Leo Gerard, the International President of the Steelworkers union and LDSS Hawks alumni,spoke briefly to the crowd just before the meeting got started.

He says he was outraged when he heard there were plans to possibly close the school and says he will help in whatever way he can.

"It's not just a school. It's a community centre. It's a place wherepeople come, and see their kids graduate."Gerard adds theschool has been good to him, sohe wants to return the favour.

During the accommodation meeting more than 50 individuals stood up to voice their concerns, offer feedback and some even provided suggestions for the board.

Director of Education for theRainbow District School Board, Norm Blaseg says thatinputwill all be considered before the final decision is made in January.

"We'll take all of the information,we will sit down and we'll be days and days of regurgitation over and over what has been brought forward and we will consider," saysBlaseg.

He adds they willhave to take a look at some of theirdata to see if there was informationpresented that the boardhadn't considered.

The next accommodation meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 20at ChelmsfordValley District Composite School in Chelmsford, Ontario.

Blaseg says he expects a similar sized crowd at that meeting as whatwas in Lively.