Save Arbor Glen

Candy replied Bernadatte’s call on Feb 28. Bernadatte works for M.P.P David.

Here is Candy’s note:

Bernadette left me a phone message at home yesterday. I returned her call today and had a lengthy chat. Yes we know it’s going to be a long process, getting involved, be seen and be heard are the only way to help navigate the direction this long term plan is going.

Telephone conversation with Bernadette from MPP office

Feb 28, 2007

· Thanks for coming to the David Zimmer, MPP office.

· Keep involved.

· Participate in school council meeting.

· Feedback to the school board.

· School board needs $120M for next decade, only have $20M, therefore need drastic change.

· Schools on Yonge are bursting with students, due to the new condominiums, whereas Willowdale is low in enrolment.

· According to Mari Rutka, it’s a long term plan, not sure what will happen. Will work on obtaining consent with parents, public, etc.

· Keep in touch with MPP’s office, call to talk to David.

· To close off, Candy indicated that we have been in contact with Mari over our concerns, and copying David to keep him in the loop. While recognizing the fact he cannot intervene, we are hoping that he can use his influence to voice our concerns.

Dear Pat,

 Thank you for your email regarding school closures.  I sincerely appreciate the time you have taken to share your views with me.

 Once again, thank you for visiting my office and keeping me in touch with issues of my riding. 

 Regards,

 David Zimmer M.P.P

Willowdale  

Dear Mr. Zimmer,

May we take this opportunity to thank you for taking the time out of your very busy schedule to meet with our group last Friday. We really appreciated your obvious interest with our concerns about the possible closing of Arbor Glen Public School as well as other schools in the area.

The five members of our core committee were very impressed that you both listened to our views as a group as well as questioned each of us individually about our personal thoughts about this important issue.

Although we understand that you are not able to intervene with the decisions made by the Trustees, we did appreciate your sound advice that we should become involved with the Arbor Glen School Council and we have already taken steps to ensure that some of our group will attend the next School Council meeting . We will also continue to voice our concerns to Mari Rutka, our school Trustee.

As you are aware, we understand that the School Trustees need to balance the budget. We are also not against change. However, we do not agree that consolidation of schools in the area is the answer. The students of Arbor Glen have consistently shown excellent academic achievement which we believe is due to the dedicated staff, parents and community members. This school, which is only thirty years old, was designed specifically for elementary students so that they may have a comfortable and safe learning environment specifically built for their age group. We strongly feel that this will be lost if the proposed plan which shows that the elementary students from Arbor Glen and Cliffwood, as well as the two day care centres are “consolidated” into the Highland Junior High building.

Thank-you once again.

Sincerely,
Member of the Arbor Glen Community & Concerned Parents