EPSB School Closure Meeting 11FEB10
A Tweet Documentary: “Perhaps we need to right side the building not right-size the kids”
The following is a stream of tweets documenting the February 11th, 2010 EPSB Meeting. If you are not familiar with how Twitter works Wikipedia is a good starting point to learn about it. The meeting was from 6pm to 11:20pm. Initials have been substituted for user names mostly to keep this documentary as short as possible. The “tweets” have largely been unedited to reflect the nature of this media. Since the list of comments is long, a few are in bold in an attempt to help those that would like to scan the proceedings quickly. The numbers are simply for reference.
The decision of the night was to proceed with the process to close 50% of Edmonton’s Inner City Schools. The track record for schools that begin this process is almost certain closure. The Edmonton Journal has produced a comprehensive summary of how the trustees voted. Trustee Sue Huff has explained in detail how she voted and why. Trustee Sue Huff has also posted her articulate comments and analysis on excess space in Edmonton Public. There also is an excellent community discussion. Another trustee, David Colburn, has consistently opposed school closure unless it was generally the wish of the community. Other trustees often say that they support the closures ‘for the sake of the kids’ or for financial reasons but provide no cogent argument for their positions. However, the fact is that EPSB has much more space that it requires for its 80,000 students. Possible reasons for this will not be commented on in this ‘documentary’.
You are welcome to follow “stolenfire” (abbreviated SF here to save space) on Twitter.
172. SF Attending EPSB meeting at 6pm today
171. SF Police Officer walked into McCauley Chambers just a minute a ago; This might be a more interesting evening then I anticipated.
169. SF @LS It is the name of the room that the EPSB holds board meetings in. They will vote to begin closing 5 schools tonight.
167. SF @LS Didn’t EPSB spend $$$ a few years ago to fix it (McCauley School) up?
166. SF a recommendation not even approved at conference committee was brought for vote. request to rule out of order. goes ahead anyway.
164. SF Long discussion about school calendars. EPSB McCauley Chambers is packed, People sitting on steps. A number of TV cameras.
163. SF Fleming lectures on behavior of speakers. I guess that is what the Police Officer was about?? Lots of families and crying babies.
162. SF An speaker from an immigrant organization is speaking about closing EPSB’s McCauley School. Talking impact on families.
161. SF “You see the little ones in the audience. These are the future students of McCauley” $4.5MM invested in fixing. Now closing.
160. SF The crowd at EPSB
159. SF 9th speaker. A mix of facts about the use of money at EPSB and emotion. Even I am getting emotional.
158. SM @SF Reading your tweets with great interest. Thanks for the updates.
157. SF 11th speaker School Bus Driver-son forbidden to talk about school closure by the school. 33 extra curriculum activities at McCaully.
156. SF 12th speaker gr 6 student. We have the best teachers I have met
155. SF 13th speaker. after school instructor. very knowledge about the educational impacts of closure.
154. SF Ben Henderson & Harry Chase & Huge MacDonald are now in the audience. The administration will now tell its story…
153. SF The assistant superintendent is telling how surveys were used to do the planning for EPSB facilities.
152. SF Citing the surveys done to plan transportation for the students “sector” boundaries were decided by the admin
151. SF The process was accelerated for inner cities schools EPSB adding more schools without consultation making more surplus space
150. SF More students are leaving EPSB than entering; while overall student enrolments are growing in -- Why?
149. SF lots of graphs that can hardly be seen and are not included in the report are being talked about at very high speed.
148. SF Colburn: Moral and fudicuary reason to support inner city schools. Closure of 3 inner city schools excessive.
147. SM Hear, hear. RT @SF: Colburn: Moral & fudicuary reason 2 support inner city schools. Closure of 3 inner city schools excessive.
146. SF L. Parker It isn‘t a savings it is a redistribution of funds
145. SF 93.1% of Eastwood students highly social vulnerability. Other schools also high social vulnerable. DC It causes me great concern
144. SF Bev Essigner believes this is best for the students. No evidence for this point of view was given
143. AG RT @SF: Colburn: Moral and fudicuary reason to support inner city schools. Closure of 3 inner city schools excessive.
142. AG RT @SF: 93.1% of Eastwd students highly social vulnerability. Other schools also high social vulnerable. DC It causes concern
141. SF Catherine Ripley: Will we be responsive to cycles of neighbourhood populations. What if we are wrong? Ans: We have never reopened.
140. AG RT @SF: Catherine Ripley: Will we b responsive 2 cycles of neighbourhd pop. What if wrong? Ans: We have never reopened.
139. SF Sue Huff: Eastwood & Parkdale will be very disadvantaged by this recommendation
138. AG RT @SF: Sue Huff: Eastwood & Parkdale will be very disadvantaged by this recommendation
137. SF Sue Huff: How do we accommodate 518 weighted school enrolment in 480 student spots?
136. SF Sue Huff: Adm rec to close almost 1/2 the schools. What is the number of kids that need to be in a school to provide quality ed?
135. AG RT @SF: Sue Huff: How do we accommodate 518 weighted school enrolment in 480 student spots?
134. SF Sue Huff: “Perhaps we need to right side the building not right-size the kids”
133. AG RT @SF: Sue Huff: “Perhaps we need to right side the building not right-size the kids”
132. SF Sue Huff: Have we considered closing down the blue building and moving to schools? Ans. No
131. AG LOLRT @SF: Sue Huff: Have we considered closing down the blue building and moving to schools? Ans. No
130. SF Sue Huff: After closing 35 schools; we would hardly put a dent in the excess space. Need to right-size etc.
129. AG RT @SF: Sue Huff: After closing 35 schools; we would hardly put a dent in the excess space. Need to right-size etc.
128. SF RT @SO: EPSB school trustees vote to proceed with closure process for Eastwood School. Four other schools still to be debated.
127. SF Again admin showing lots of hard to read graphs and talking fast
126. AG RT @SF: RT @SO: EPSB school trustees vote 2 proceed w/closure process for Eastwood School. 4 other schools still 2b debated.
125. AG RT @SF: Again admin showing lots of hard to read graphs and talking fast
123. NM @SF Appreciate the live tweets. Sorry can't be there tonight (probably would be shouting insults if I was!)
122. SF Bev Esslinger: Will support the recommendation to close McCauley. Best interests of students. No evidence provided.
121. AG RT @SF: Bev Esslinger: Will support the recommendation to close McCauley. Best interests of students. No evidence provided.
120. SF Colburn: Estimate of the savings? Adm: Hard to say. Redistribution of funds only. Potential savings of $100K (!!)
119. AG RT @SF: Colburn: Estimate of the savings? Adm: Hard to say. Redistribution of funds only. Potential savings of $100K (!!)
118. SF Colburn: Why close McCauley when recently modernized for $4.5 to move to a school in marginal condition?
117. AG RT @SF: Colburn: Why close McCauley when recently modernized for $4.5 to move to a school in marginal condition?
116. TO Agree! RT @SF: Colburn: Why close McCauley when recently modernized for $4.5 to move to a school in marginal condition?
115. SM Great ? RT @SF: Colburn: Why close McCauley when recently modernized for $4.5 to move to a school in marginal condition?
114. SF Colburn: Reading letter from City Councilers about current City investments in McCauley neighbourhood
113. SF Colburn reading letters from students that attended McCauley a decade ago. Very poignant.
112. AG RT @SF: Colburn: Reading letter from City Councilers about current City investments in McCauley neighbourhood
111. AG RT @SF: Colburn reading letters from students that attended McCauley a decade ago. Very poignant.
110. TO RT @AG: RT @SF: Colburn: Reading letter from cc about current CoE investments in McCauley 'hood
109. SF Gibson: talking about $ per meter. Supports looking at closing McCauley.
108. AG RT @SF: Gibson: talking about $ per meter. Supports looking at closing McCauley.
107. SF Gibson: Have a $24MM deficit in school maintenance. <<Is this from good management??
106. AG RT @SF: Gibson: Have a $24MM deficit in school maintenance. <<Is this from good management??
105. SF George Rice: Talking about how bad EPSB does. 25% students don’t graduate. (relevance?) Supports closing schools.
104. AG RT @SF: George Rice: Talking about how bad EPSB does. 25% students don’t graduate. (relevance?) Supports closing schools.
103. SF Sue Huff: I wouldnt want my child to have to walk 3kms through the inner city. Does not support closing McCauley
102. TO @SF Thanks for the Tweets regarding school closure discussion. Very much appreciated. #ABed
101. SF Don Flemming: Claiming that more staff can be provided. Supports closing.<< But it is a redistribution of funds only
100. AG RT @SF: Don Flemming: Claiming that more staff can be provided. Supports closing.<< But it is a redistribution of funds only
99. SF RT @SO: Edmonton Public School trustees vote to proceed with closure process for McCauley school. Three trustees against.
98. AG RT @SF: RT @SO: Edm Public School trustees vote to proceed with closure process for McCauley school. 3 trustees against.
97. SF Graphs and dialogue by EPSB admin was so fast I didnt have time to tweet.
96. SF Dave Colburn: greater support is needed for inner city schools. Asks colleagues “How does community fit into this?”
95. AG RT @SF: Dave Colburn: greater support is needed for inner city schools. Asks colleagues “How does community fit into this?”
94. SF RT @JD: Specialized schools & open boundaries help break vital connections that keep communities alive&vibrant in IMO.
93. SF David Colburn: We will have some pretty crammed schools in the inner city
92. SF Colburn: Beginning the closure for Parkdale & Eastwood is extreme & not in the best interest of our reputation
91. CS Attended the meeting on closure of St. Mark Catholic Jr. High. Thanks to @SF for the updates from the public side.
90. AG RT @SF: Colburn: Beginning the closure for Parkdale & Eastwood is extreme & not in the best interest of our reputation
89. SF Sue Huff suggests an amendment to the motion. Fleming interrupts. Sue asks for a ruling from Secretary. Sue proceeds with amendment
88. AG RT @SF: Sue Huff suggests amendment to motion. Fleming interrupts. Sue asks 4 ruling from Sec. Sue proceeds with amendment
87. SF Sue Huff: Parkdale is in acceptable condition. Eastwood is not in good condition. Keep Parkdale open. amendment being discussed.
86. SF Colburn: It is a good middle road Flemming & Eslinger speaking against. Defeated. back to orig recommendation
85. AG RT @SF: Sue Huff: Parkdale in acceptable cond'n. Eastwood not in gd cond'n. Keep Parkdale open. amendment being discussed.
84. SF Sue Huff: Parkdale (typo) Delton will be too full. Students will lose hot lunch program. Very poor plan.
83. AG RT @SF: Colburn: It is a good middle road. Flemming & Eslinger speaking against. Defeated. back to orig recommendation
82. SF Sue: Why have we thrown away our viability measures and are planning in the wind
81. AG RT @SF: Sue: Why have we thrown away our viability measures and are planning in the wind
80. SF Bev: Got to do what is best for the kids. (I guess stuffing them in an overcrowded school)
79. AG RT @SF: Sue Huff: Parkdale will be too full. Students will lose hot lunch program. Very poor plan.
78. SF More graphs. Talking getting slower by the admin. Sounds like this is a tiring process (for all of us)
77. AG RT @SF: Bev: Got to do what is best for the kids. (I guess stuffing them in an overcrowded school)
76. SF Admin: Graphs unintelligible and not presented to the community ahead of time. Talking going fast again
75. SF RT @SO: Edmonton public trustees vote to trigger closure process for Parkdale School. Two trustees against-Huff&Colburn
74. SF Dave Colburn: Expects some students to select other districts
73. TO Go Sue! RT @AG: RT @SF: @suehuff: Why have we thrown away our viability measures & are planning in the wind
72. AG RT @SF: RT @SO: Edm public trustees vote to trigger closure process for Parkdale School. 2 trustees against-Huff&Colburn
71. SF Colburn: What is weighted enrolment? Admin: Kindergarten 1/2 student etc.
70. SF Great great confusion around how student space is managed and calcuated!!
69. AG RT @SF: Great great confusion around how student space is managed and calcuated!!
68. TO RT @SF: Great great confusion around how student space is managed and calcuated!!
67. SF Colburn: Big picture. Ask to make decision but not knowing the broad overall plan. How many schools are we looking to close?
66. SF Colburn: $24MM short fall in maintenance of schools will be barely scratched by closing many many schools
65. AG RT @SF: Colburn: Big picture. Ask 2 make decision but not knowing broad overall plan. How many schools r we looking to close?
64. SF Colburn: Asking about why education would be inferior with smaller enrolments? Will be presenting a motion to get this info later.
63. AG RT @SF: Colburn: $24MM short fall in maintenance of schools will be barely scratched by closing many many schools
62. SF Gibson: Talking about how public engagement is planning. Otherwise there is no master plan. <<We know
61. SF Sue Huff: We are putting an awful lot of students on buses that were not on buses; Why are we taking apart what is working
60. AG RT @SF: Gibson: Talking about how public engagement is planning. Otherwise there is no master plan. <<We know
59. SF Gibson interrupted Sue Huff. Sue continues
58. AG RT @SF: Sue Huff: We are putting an awful lot of students on buses that were not on buses; Why are we taking apart what is working?
57. AG Go Sue! RT @SF: Gibson interrupted Sue Huff. Sue continues
56. SF Fleming: It is not so much what happens, it is what you make happen (??)
55. SF 10min intermission. Outcome sadly completely predictable. We need to think outside of the (blue) box! ab
54. AG RT @SF: 10min intermission. Outcome sadly completely predictable. We need to think outside of the (blue) box!
53. AG @SF Thanks so much for the tweets from the school closure meeting.
52. SF EPSB Closures begins again… 9 more speakers to go. you have to admire the passion of (the community)
51. livingsanctuary @SF How does it look for McCauley? Has anyone from the community league spoken?
50. SF @livingsanctuary I think there was over 14 speakers. They have voted to start the process. Once started almost always close the school.
49. SF 2nd speaker: This has been a roller coaster for my family.
48. SF Hardisty. 2nd speaker. Little by little people are leaving my community
47. SF 3rd speaker encourages EPSB to think creatively. The process has been going for 5yrs <<school act says it should be complete in 1yr
46. SF 4th speaker Talk about small class size, not efficiencies. Offloading costs to parents. Still own the building with poor lease rate.
45. LS @SF Awful. A neighbourhood under revitalization without a school. #ableg
44. SF 4th speaker asks board members to advocate for parents. Discusses safety problems,
43. AG RT @livingsanctuary: @SF Awful. A neighbourhood under revitalization without a school. #ableg
42. SF 5th speaker Parent Council Chair EPSB will not have the time to retrofit Hartisty Talks about road safety and social issues.
41. SF RT @CS: @SJ Prob Norwood for elem, Spruce Av for jr. high as official receiving schools. Kids usually scatter in many directions after closure.
40. SO @SF So glad you're giving the play-by-play of tonight's meeting!
39. SF @SO Thanks!
38. CC @SF Is the EPSB meeting still on? Is Spruce Ave on the agenda?
37. SF 8th speaker. Liked Sue Huffs and the guy on the end (Dave Colburn’s) ideas. Relating the history of the schools.
36. SF @CC stil going strong. Several more speakers and then debate. Too bad we cannot use this energy for better purposes!
35. SF 8th elderly lady with a cane advises the board to “look after the children” and apologizes for keeping them up late!!
34. SF RT @SO: public trustees voted to start closure process for Spruce Avenue's elementary program. Would stay as J.H.
33. AG RT @SF: RT @SO: public trustees voted to start closure process 4 Spruce Avenue's elementary program. Wud stay as J.H.
32. SF 9th speaker articulating the problems with how space is measured and managed at EPSB
31. SF The flood of presenters has concluded. The administration now gives their presentation.
30. SF EPSB admin presents more graphs that are difficult (impossible) to read. Talking is much slower now. Can almost follow:)
28. SF No one will move the recommendations for Hardesty! Don Fleming has to move the motion himself.
27. AG RT @SF: No one will move the recommendations for Hardesty! Don Fleming has to move the motion himself.
26. SF George Rice is very tired and talking very slowly. Talking about the greater area beyond the greater Hartisty area.
25. SF George Rice asking about city plans for identification (typo intensification) and redevelopment plans.
24. CC @SF You got that right. I taught & coached Vball @Spruce Ave for 9 yrs -we played all those schools. Wanted McCauley 2 make it.
23. SF George Rice: What is best for the children? We have students that we do not meet needs. Staff is great. etc.
22. SF Ripley: thinking of using surplus to close schools <<these meetings shouldnt go on so long for some
21. CC @SF I also enjoyed atmosphere of a K-9 school so am disappointed they are closing elem part. Interaction of elem & jr hi was +'ve
20. SF Shipka: asking about the time to refit Hardesty school offers alternatives adm: we have considered all possibilities
19. SF Colburn: supports recommendation.Significant community support for closing Capilano. Many positive qualities of educatn at Hardisty.
18. SF Huff: Will support recommendation. Very small school. Asked other detailed questions.
17. SF RT @edmontonjournal: Edmonton schools one step closer to closing http://bit.ly/dxDzBU
16. AG RT @SF: Colburn:supports recommend'n.Significant comm'ty support 4 closing Capilano. Many pos qualities of educatn at Hardisty.
15. AG RT @SF: Huff: Will support recommendation. Very small school. Asked other detailed questions.
14. SF Recommendation to begin closing Capilano passes supported by all trustees
13. SF RT @SO: Closure process starts for Capilano School with unanimous approval from Edmonton public school trustees.
12. SF @CC I am getting tired but I think it will be refited to accept students from other schools
11. SF Admin says viability numbers do not work with sector reviews DC Says he does not remember this as being part of a board discussion
10. SF Sue shares Colburns concerns about the disruption of students at Fulton just to fill Hardisty
9. SF Sue Huff does not support closing Fulton.
8. SF Bev Eslinger: Will support the recommendation to begin closure process Fulton
7. SF People are leaving. Admin goes on with that happens next. Fast talking for 1 min about a graph with about 20 bubbles.
6. 6oct @SF Wonderful tweets. Thank you.
5. TO Agree, much appreciated! RT @6oct: @SF Wonderful tweets. Thank you.
4. SF RT @SO: Edmonton Public trustees vote to start closure process for Fulton Place school. Two trustees, Huff and Colburn, against.
3. SF Dave Colburn making a space rationalization motion due before closing schools
2. CC @SF Thanks tons for the tweets. It kept those of us at other meetings in the loop. Too bad about outcome.
1. SF Meeting is o v e r! 6–11:20pm!!!