Listing all the reasons for closing Stuart Wood

WEDNESDAY MORNING EDITORIAL — Trustees had so many reasons Monday night for closing down Stuart Wood elementary they had to bring written lists.

John Harwood had four — safety, accessibility, technology and healthy play (the gym is old and too small). Hardwood acknowledged that the “learning culture” at Stuart Wood is strong, but the school “is not magical for the students.”

Joan Cowden had five reasons, pretty much the same as Harwood’s but with the additional one of an estimated $4 million cost to upgrade the school. The $4 million figure wasn’t explained but there was no doubt trustees weren’t interested in taking on the expense — in fairness, they don’t have the means.

“This is in the best interests of the students,” said Megan Wade. (Funny, but the students don’t seem to think that way, as talking with them about their school makes abundantly clear.)

And so it went. In their determination, almost defiance, the trustees debated moving Stuart Wood students to Beattie but, for a time, neglected to include the part about closing the school and returning it to the City.

No matter. They left no doubt about their strong belief that closing the school was the best decision they could make. They reasoned that there was no point in listening to two downtown residents’ associations, the heritage commission, the Kamloops Central BIA and most of the people who attended a public meeting several weeks ago, all of whom opposed the closure, because the issue was one of education.

That, of course, is the piece that’s missing. It’s about education but it’s also about what schools bring to communities and neighbourhoods that goes beyond education. The trustees, like City councillors, found it impossible to think outside the boxes they’ve drawn for themselves.

Nothing would have been lost if the trustees had delayed their decision by a few weeks and given downtown residents their podium. Instead, they talked of policy and precedent. Allowing an extra bit of time for consultation almost certainly wouldn’t have changed the board’s ultimate decision but it would have been at least a little comforting, democratically speaking.