Funding Rural School

Fri, 2017-04-07 19:40

Webgear

Chapman’s Ice Cream melts hearts in battle to save school

https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/04/05/chapmans-ice-cream-me...

"Chapman’s Ice Cream is treating a local school to more than $2 million as part of a plan to keep it open — and eventually help rebuild it.

Trustees at the Bluewater District School Board voted Tuesday night to approve a proposal that would see the Municipality of Grey Highlands and the ice cream company keep the rural school open in the short term, with a further $4 million — shared equally between Chapman’s and developer Parataxis — to rebuild Beavercrest Community School in Markdale."

It is great to see a local employer support the community however should private business be supporting the public school system like this?

Chapman’s Ice Cream is a great company and likely one of the largest employers in Grey County.

Fri, 2017-04-07 19:55

#3

Mr. Magoo

Quote:
It is great to see a local employer support the community however should private business be supporting the public school system like this?

Only if they wish to.

I think the story was plain-speaking about how this would directly benefit Chapman's.

Personally, I wouldn't be sad if they took that money and invested it in making ice cream that wasn't like frozen foam.

Fri, 2017-04-07 20:12

#4

Webgear

I think it is wrong for a local business to provide for the community that the province government should be doing.

The local area has been hit with several school closures over the last year. Communities are falling apart here.

I have do disagree about the quality of their ice cream. I love it.

Fri, 2017-04-07 20:22

#5

Mr. Magoo

Quote:
The local area has been hit with several school closures over the last year. Communities are falling apart here.

I don't know all the nitty-gritty about those school closures, so I can't really speculate on whether they're warranted or not. But I know that most taxpayers would like to pay as little tax as possible, so perhaps the community would rather keep money in their pocket, instead of paying a bit more to fund this school. But I'm pretty confident that if the ratepayers will fund it, the local government would be happy to spend it.

Quote:
I have do disagree about the quality of their ice cream. I love it.

Well, I like peanut butter and Cheez Whiz sandwiches, so I'm in no position to judge. :)

Fri, 2017-04-07 20:30

(Reply to #5) #6

Webgear

Quote:
Well, I like peanut butter and Cheez Whiz sandwiches, so I'm in no position to judge. :)

That is wrong on so many levels.

Fri, 2017-04-07 22:19

#7

quizzical

this is a move to privatize all schools to corporate funders. using templates in the USA like Honda's school in Colorado.

Fri, 2017-04-07 22:25

(Reply to #7) #8

Webgear

quizzical wrote:

this is a move to privatize all schools to corporate funders. using templates in the USA like Honda's school in Colorado.

I do not believe that is the case for Chapman's Ice Cream, they are a local business. They have built thier business in this small community.

I think they are honestly training to support the community.

Sat, 2017-04-08 17:53

#9

Mr. Magoo

Quote:

I think it is wrong for a local business to provide for the community that the province government should be doing.

The local area has been hit with several school closures over the last year. Communities are falling apart here.

I'm not sure it makes sense to just say that the Provincial government should be financing reconstruction of a school that they believe should be closed.

I'm not specifically agreeing with, nor disagreeing with, the closure of this school or any other. I'm just suggesting that another part of what "the Provincial government should be doing" is sometimes making difficult choices.

Quote:
this is a move to privatize all schools to corporate funders.

Is this going to be the first one? Or else which other formerly public elementary schools are now owned by a corporation?

Also, I agree with Webgear's belief that Chapman's isn't doing this to get into the school ownership business, nor to offer only ice cream in the cafeteria. The article makes it pretty plain: they need this community for their workforce, and anything that would attract people to this community helps that. Fair enough. I've seen it suggested here that businesses are forever indebted to the government for everything from sidewalks to laws, so what's the problem with a local company acknowledging that and cutting a cheque for the bill?

Sat, 2017-04-08 18:11

#10

Webgear

School closure opponents meet with Hunter

http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/2017/04/07/school-closure-opponents-mee...

"Representatives from a group asking for a moratorium on school closures in Ontario have expressed disappointment after a meeting with Education Minister Mitzie Hunter on Wednesday.
Judy Keeling and Susan MacKenzie of the Ontario Alliance Against School Closures met with Hunter at Queen's Park where they again made their case for a halt to the large number of school closures and consolidations occurring in the province.

The two representatives met with the minister for over 45 minutes and came away with a feeling of frustration and disappointment, as it was clear from the outset that they would be able to change Hunter's "opinion or attitude" on the matter, according to a news release from the alliance.

"It is obvious that the ministry is motivated primarily by questionable cost-savings in closing schools," said Keeling, an Owen Sound resident and a member of the group that fought to keep OSCVI as a high school last year. "It is clear that they only care about money."

The alliance has suggested that more than 600 schools in 30 school boards are vulnerable to be considered for closure over the next few years.

The group has been critical of what it calls the province's lack of caring about schools in rural areas, where the circumstances are much different than in built-up urban areas."