While the Dorval City council passed a special resolution Monday night, about five kilometres away, Lachine voted on an almost identical motion.
The “Resolution of support to maintain the opening of the Lakeside Academy School” was, in a rare exception, moved to the top of Dorval’s meeting. In Lachine, council exceptionally proposed and passed the motion unanimously, in order to show support for the only English high school in the territory, slated for closure on June 30.
“Council speaks by resolution. By doing it, it gives it more weight,” said Dorval’s mayor, Edgar Rouleau.
The motion highlighted the success rate of the students (96 per cent), a recent $2.85-million investment in the facility and the exodus of students being a loss for the Anglophone community.
The resolutions ask that the Lester B. Pearson School Board reconsider their decision at the next board meeting, Jan. 25, and that the Ministry of Education look into a unique pilot project for the school.
Applause roared from Dorval’s packed city hall after the motion passed. A petition to the National Assembly in favour of the pilot project was circulated by the brains behind the #SaveLakeside movement, Jennifer Park. In four days, the petition has garnered 1,500 signatures.
Pilot project
French, English and First Nations students would study together under the Lachine school’s roof. Lakeside is the foundation of the project, a “work-in-progress” partnership, according to Park, between the Lester B. Pearson School Board, Commission Scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys and First Nations Band Council.
“We see everywhere that people are changing the way they do things, said Park. To allow all the cultures to mix and be given an opportunity to enrich your life, who wouldn’t want to do that?”
She sees the collaboration as a logical step to not only keep Lakeside Academy open, but initiate a transformation of the education system. “There are so many people that want to be part of this change. We need to look at things differently and look at ways to find solutions,” said Park, who is a mother of two Lakeside students, and a fluently bilingual Anglophone.
The petition cites examples of bilingual schools like F.A.C.E. School and Greenfield Park International School.
Even if all parties agree on the project, Lakeside Academy’s fate is still in the hands of Lester B. Pearson, when a reconsideration vote will be proposed by a commissioner at the next meeting.