MINISTRY PREFERS TO DEMOLISH SCHOOL BUILDINGS
Public board against selling usable school building to Christian School
TORONTO – The Ontario Ministry of Education would rather see a usable school building demolished than allow it to fall into the hands of a private Christian school, charged Bob Runciman, Leader of the Official Opposition and MPP for Leeds-Grenville.
“I am truly disappointed with Minister Gerard Kennedy,” said Runciman. “So much does he and his government abhor Christian schools that the Ministry is allowing school boards to demolish buildings rather than sell them to these alternative schools.”
“It was bad enough that the Ministry reversed a decision by our government to provide tax relief for parents who send their children to Christian schools,” said Runciman. “But allowing school boards to establish policy forbidding the sale of surplus schools to Christian schools is ethically offensive.”
On November 2, Runciman sent a letter to Kennedy asking that he delay approval of an application by the Upper Canada District School Board to demolish the abandoned New Dublin Public School north of Brockville. The property was offered for sale through a real estate agent and the Athens Christian School had signed an offer to purchase it at the asking price of $156,000. The board immediately took the school off the market and announced its decision to demolish the building.
“I have yet to receive a response from Minister Kennedy even though on two occasions later I personally handed him a copy of the letter,” said Runciman.
The school board has since approved a policy that prohibits the sale of surplus schools to anyone that it considers a competitor … in this case a small Christian school.
The board has tried to justify its actions with a number of questionable ploys. First it said an engineer’s report had determined that the school was unsafe and it had a legal opinion that it could be held responsible for problems after the building was sold. Then the board said it had to charge a price that represented what a replacement school would cost rather than its market value. Ministry staff clarified this issue stating there is no policy that prohibits the board from selling the school to a Christian school at market value.
Athens Christian School trustees reviewed the engineering report with the help of other engineers and announced it was satisfied the building with some renovations would be safe for its students. The Christian school informed the board it is still prepared to purchase the property.
“Now we hear that the board is removing equipment and materials from the building … chattels that were part of the original sales offer,” said Runciman. “I hope that the board isn’t ripping stuff out trying to convince the Christian school to give up and withdraw its offer.”
The board in recent weeks has removed the water treatment equipment, cabinets and shelving, office and kitchen furnishings. Desks have been moved into the gym for storage resulting in gashes to the floor.
“I understand the board is obsessed on this issue since it received public attention,” said Runciman. “I can only assume from the Minister’s silence that he and his government support the policy adopted by the Upper Canada District School that in practice, allows boards to demolish buildings rather than sell them to Christian schools.”
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