Parent of Barrowtown Elementary Opposing the Grade K-7 Reconfiguration

By Nicole Fadden, Barrowtown Elementary School Parent

I am a parent of 3 children that attend Barrowtown Elementary. Currently they are in grade 3, 2 and 1.

For the 2015-2016 school year, there are 88 registered students at Barrotown. The year prior was approximately 92. 

I have several concerns for our rural schools turning into K-5 schools for various reason. Not just with the school that affects our household, but many other farming families who currently use rural schools like Mt. Lehman, Bradner, Aberdeen, Ross and Upper Sumas Elementary.

With the exception of Upper Sumas, our schools run a student population of approximately 200 or less, from grades K to 7.

What guarantee do we as parents have, that the Abbotsford School District will not permanently shut our rural schools down if the K-5 Proposal goes through? Removing our senior students will reduce our school enrolment. At what point will the School District say “shut it down.”

Our rural schools are being phased out in a world that we push to work faster than what many are ready for. Our children are being pushed into mature situations that they are not prepared for. We as parents understand our children's comfort level. 

I'm proud to say that my two oldest are quite independent. However the idea of my oldest being put on a bus, taken 20 km away from home (his catchement school would be Abbotsford Middle) at the age of 11 is more than enough to say – this is not right.

Taking an 11 year old child from a rural elementary environment, putting him on a bus at 7:15am, to go to the city centre of Abbotsford for school and expecting him to find his way through the maze of 560+ students of Abbotsford Middle is nothing short of a psychological nightmare waiting to happen. 

How is that the best interest of a child?

I feel as if the entire school district itsself needs to be re-evaluated with respect to grade and school separation and catchement area locations.

This cannot be done in a short time frame, much like the life changing decision of altering our rural schools, and our childrens way of life, by the end of February 2016.

I am asking the Abbotsford School District to take a step back, re-evalate our students situations and do research in the best learning environment for our children throughout the entire district. I'm sure any changes forthcoming will be more widely agreeable and accepted among parents who can see the information reviewed and the basis of the School Boards decisions. As for what I have personally found doing my own research – I have yet to learn of any benefits that would greatly outweigh the disadvantages of the proposed K-5 reconfiguration.

Sincerely,
Nicole Fadden