Rozanski report: Runciman calls for quick
action on small schools and funding
Queen’s Park – Leeds-Grenville
MPP Bob Runciman was quick to commend Dr. Mordechai
Rozanski on his report into Ontario’s
student-focused funding formula for public education.
The Education Equality Task Force, led by Dr.
Rozanski, today released its report and has
recommended benchmark cost adjustments, new
strategic investments and structural changes
totalling at least $1.8 billion to be phased
in over the next three years. The report also
underlined the importance of small schools.
“I heard many presentations and received
many submissions from parents, councils, trustees,
boards, MPP’s and municipal representatives
emphasizing the importance of sustaining small
schools in their communities,” said Rozanski.
“Consolidation of schools in rural boards
may significantly increase students, school-bus
travelling time, adversely affecting the overall
educational experience of the students involved,
and result in the closing of a building that
has been a hub for community activities.”
“I am happy to see Dr. Rozanski understands
the significance of schools to small communities
and their students,” said Runciman. “I
call on our local boards to consider this advice
when it comes to high school closure decisions
in our area.”
The Task Force recommends at least $1.l billion
to update Ontario’s funding formula benchmarks
through August 2003 and at least $689 million
in new strategic investments. The report also
calls for new flexibility for smaller rural
schools in single school communities.
“Flexibility is one of the guiding principles
of my recommendations.” Dr. Rozanski pointed
out. “That is, that the funding formula
should allow boards and their schools a certain
amount of discretion in assessing their local
needs and in spending part of their funding
allocation to address those local needs.”
“I am heartened by Dr. Rozanski’s
advice,” said Runciman. “And I call
on our government and area school boards to
respond quickly and decisively.
