Citizens of Kennedy and Langbank made it clear Monday that they believe the interests of their children are best served by keeping their school open.

In an impassioned, well-prepared presentation to officials of Prairie Valley School Division, the community stated the case for maintaining classes in Kennedy. Some went a step further, asking that the future of their school be guaranteed for some time to come.

Kennedy-Langbank is one of 11 schools currently under review by Prairie Valley (PVSD), the recently created larger school division which oversees schools in 46 communities.

Monday’s public meeting was one of a series being held in places where schools have been deemed nonviable according to the PVSD formula.

All of the school division’s elected board members were on hand Monday, along with representation from central office staff.

In his opening remarks, Board Chair Rod Luhning said the meetings were being held to gain feedback from the public as to how the board should be addressing the issues of increasing costs and decreasing enrolments in rural schools.

Luhning said a school division has few options at its disposal. It must either draw more revenue by increasing local property tax; cut back on services to students, or examine the use of resources to make sure they are used effectively.

Jan Chell, director of education for PVSD, said the board attempts to provide the best education it can to its 8,000 students and that it values open and transparent communication.

“We strive to create equitable environments for learning. The school division also values its holistic learning community, which provides for the social, emotional and spiritual needs of the students as well as academics,” she said.

Chell noted the large turnout for the meeting. There were more than 250 in attendance.

“We look forward to a productive exchange of information,” she said.

Chell said the reality is that declining enrolments translate to a declining grant from the province.

“Given the dollars we have in Prairie Valley School Division and the size of the division, we cannot sustain the small centres of learning and maintain equitable opportunities for students.”

“She followed this with a brief explanation of what is thought to be a reasonable classroom size (population).

Office staff reviewed a statistical analysis of Kennedy-Langbank’s situation, contained in a handout which had been available at the door.

It dealt in large part with busing issues and the impact the closure of the school in Kennedy might have on class sizes at Kipling and Whitewood, the two nearest schools within PVSD.

Assuming that all K-L students opted to remain in Prairie Valley and chose to attend their nearest (other) school, 88 would attend Kipling and 13 would go to Whitewood.

It was noted that 63 students at Kennedy currently ride the bus.

The average annual cost per student for education at various schools was also shown. These include teaching and support staff, caretaking and utility costs. Currently the average cost per student in PVSD is $ 5, 277. That at Kennedy-Langbank School is $6,113 based on 2006-07 figures, the meeting was told.

The community’s case for keeping its school had many facets; some citing past and current performance by staff and students; others historic references and the potential for growth.

It began with an impassioned speech by Bob Brickley, who implored the Board to consider its decisions carefully and to not rush into changing the lives of the children.

“We find ourselves in a large school division,” he began.” We didn’t want to be here.

“Now it is clear that you don’t want us here.”

Brickley compared it to a prearranged marriage in which one party immediately filed for divorce. “We’d ask that you get to know us well before getting rid of us,” he said.

Brickley suggested there is more to a school’s viability than economics and affordability; that education is more than institutions.

“A synchronization of values and integrity in school and at home is what rural people seek.”

He urged the Board to look down the road and asked how many rural schools will be “affordable.”

“When all of the schools are in Regina, there will still be students in rural Saskatchewan and small communities. What then?”

Brickley recalled that 20 years ago the (then) Arcola School Unit proposed to send Kennedy students to Wawota. A local decision, deemed by upper levels of government to be unworkable, was made to join with Langbank and jump to Broadview School Division.

“It has worked. We have a wonderful school here, and a spirit for education found in few other places.’

He said 80 years ago the federal government knew what was best. It took First Nations children out of their communities and sent them to boarding schools.

“Don’t underestimate parents’ input into the education and well-being of children,” Brickly said.

His advice to Board members was threefold:

“You are empowered to make life-altering decisions. Proceed slowly. Proceed cautiously.

“As you look into the future, ensure that you keep the well-being of children first and foremost in your deliberations, and,

“Work with the community. Your decisions will live long after you; perhaps 80 years longer.”

Debbie Stutt, a local school board member for more than 15 years, has seen Kennedy-Langbank School governed first by Broadview School Division, then Aspen Grove and now Prairie Valley.

She presented statistics which compared K-L dropout rates in the past four years with provincial averages.

Stutt also provided figures about the average number of high school credits earned, students’ grades (marks) and numbers of those going on to seek post-secondary education.

The K-L dropout rate of 4.75 per cent compares favorably with the provincial average of 26 per cent she suggested.

Students at K-L earn an average of 30.5 high school credits, she said, which is also more than the provincial average.

And more than 83 per cent go on to post-secondary education, whereas provincewide that number is 32 per cent.

Stutt also mentioned that elective classes are offered at Kennedy that are offered in few other schools. These include Ag Tech cow-calf and field crops classes.

Mayor Tye Cancade said the potential for Kennedy’s growth would be severely affected were the school to be closed.

Activity in the oil patch has been significant, with about 100 wells drilled in 2006 and more planned for 2007. Studies being conducted for a wind farm project look promising, he said, and plans call for upgrading the Enbridge pumping station at Langbank in the near future. A new pipeline will also be built through the area.

Bigger news, still, Cancade said, is that Seed Hawk, an air seeder manufacturing company located near Langbank, is doing a huge expansion to fill demand from overseas markets.

“All of these projects will bring employment to the area. I don’t need to tell you that new families will want to live where there is a school for their children,” he said.

Seed Hawk’s Pat Beaujot supported Mayor Cancade’s remarks.

A graduate of Langbank High School ( a class of five), Beaujot is a principal in a company which currently employs a staff of 45 and is growing.

A recent agreement with Swedish company will result in Seed Hawk’s greatly increasing its output. Beaujot said he anticipates the plant will have a staff of 90 within one and a half years and that in three to five year that number could approach 200 employees.

He also took issue with the premise that rural populations will continue to decline.

“We have a very strong and diverse economy; our grains and oilseeds are second to none; the area is home to significant hog and cow-calf operations, and now farmers are in the energy business (ethanol).

“The grain business has seen its lowest times,” Beaujot predicted.

If there is a boom, small towns will start growing again,” he said.

He also said the best part of his education, which later included a university degree, was growing up in a small school.

Parent Keith Bourhis based his presentation on the ACRE report (Action Committee on the Rural Economy) which claims that reviving the fortunes of rural Saskat-chewan is a government priority.

He chose numerous quotations from the report which stress working together to find solutions, “In the ‘Economic Blueprint for Prosperity’ the Premier challenges us to create new opportunites,” Bourhis said. ” There is a clear contradiction between what the government says it wants and what is happening in rural Saskatchewan.”

He said Kennedy-Langbank School has continued to provide a high level of education despite imposed limitations.

“Saskatchewan is getting a tremendous ‘bang for their buck’ here in Kennedy School.

“We deserve a long-term commitment to keeping this school.”

Several other parents gave testimonials to the education their children are receiving and to the school’s ability and willingness to accommodate those with special needs.

Their arguments touched on the negative impact of long bus rides, their disagreement with the benefits of larger classes claimed by PVSD and their appreciation for what they feel is a well-rounded education offered in K-L School. They also mentioned its safe learning environment and that students rarely got into trouble.

Students Megan Johnston and Tyler Smyth, secretary and president, respectively, of the SRC, spoke of the benefits they see in attending a smaller school, where everyone is encouraged to participate.

They reinforced their comments by reading a letter from a recent exchange student from Quebec, who found K-L to have “a delightful learning atmosphere” and expressed the wish that she could attend such a school.

Elmer Molnar, a grandfather and former Mayor, suggested that not using a $3.5 million school (K-L) would be irresponsible.

“Buses can run both ways. How about bringing Kipling and Whitewood students here?” he said.

In his closing remarks, Luhning (PVSD Board Chair) thanked the community for its input into the coming decision.

He acknowledged that many good points had been made and expressed appreciation for the respectful tone of the meeting.

He also mentioned that students had taken Board members on a tour of the school prior to the meeting and he had taken note, as one speaker had mentioned, that there were no locks on the student lockers.

Local school board chair Jenn Bruce expressed the thanks of the community to the PVSD Board and Staff.