While most were spending the last day of 2015 at home with their families, preparing to ring in the new year, Lachine and Dorval politicians met with the chair of the Lester B. Pearson School Board (LBPSB) at Dorval City Hall to discuss keeping Lakeside Academy open.
The only English high school in Lachine is slated to close June 30, 2016, after an eight-to-five vote on Dec. 14.
“It was a very positive meeting where everyone was getting their issues, concerns and data out on the table,” said LBPSB chairperson, Suanne Stein Day. “There was some brainstorming, and a councillor who would really like to see a bilingual school open in Lachine, and so would I, but that’s not going to happen in the short-term.”
Parents and local politicians have been rallying to keep the school from closing with the #SaveLakeside campaign, initiated by parent Jennifer Park, who also attended the meeting Dec. 31.
The only way to reverse the decision is through a reconsideration vote. A commissioner, who voted to close the school, would need to propose a motion by Jan. 18. To this date, no motions have been presented, according to Stein Day.
“We had a good meeting, but nothing is solved yet,” said Lachine Mayor Claude Dauphin. “We spoke about a lot of options. Of course the Quebec government has to be involved because education is of provincial jurisdiction.”
While Stein Day understands the parents’ concerns, she said the school board’s resources have to be used in classrooms instead of buildings.
“We’re spending a lot of money heating, maintaining and administrating buildings that are mostly empty,” she said. “I’m proud of the community for their passion and caring about their children’s education. While I wish we could absolutely meet their needs, in the end, we have to do what’s right.”
Lakeside Academy is currently at 37 per cent capacity.
While there have been some Lester B. Pearson schools that tried for reconsideration in the past, so far none have been successful.
If no motion is presented to the board, the school’s fate will be irreversible after the next board meeting on Jan. 25.