The death knell for two schools in Port Hope

A final review of a decision to close two public schools in Port Hope is complete and the news released late last week is not good for those trying to save them.
A review by the Ministry of Education into the closing of Dr. L.B. Powers Public School and Central Public School concludes the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board is justified in its plans to close both schools next month. The schools serve the centre of the town and have a long history in the community.
Parents, politicians and others from the town fought a bitter battle with the school board, which ended with a major public meeting in February with promises from the trustees that they would listen. But the illusion of democracy persists as the board, with its air tight policy on school closure merely walked through its consultation process with a clear goal of shutting down the two schools. With declining enrollment and elderly buildings, it was a deadly combination nobody could argue against with any authority. Certainly, there were those who tried, presenting facts and figures, but with the board's closure policy in motion, it was impossible to stop.
But the board is not interested in this area. With responsibilities for a huge region including Clarington and Peterborough, with its rapid growth, places like Port Hope (Northumberland, for that matter) cannot compete. New subdivisions means the construction of new schools, which can be built like massive box stores. These gigantic building are economic and efficient, but very poor places to educate children. They are like education factories with the only goal of processing young people rather than teaching them anything.
This will also hurt the downtown of Port Hope, as people will move to the new subdivisions rather than live in the town's core. And, it will hurt future economic growth because businesses will not want to relocate to a place where they cannot move with their families.
What is even more apparent is the rush to amalgamate school boards has meant Northumberland is the big loser. It cannot contend with the other more developed areas and its political representatives are puppets not champions.
Thankfully, Port Hope School Trustee Erin Brown is not running again. She has failed the community and leaves with her tail between her legs. Regardless of any other work she has done during her two terms in office, people will remember it was her watch that left them without two key schools. She would have suffered a humiliating defeat.
As for Gord Gilchrist, the other trustee, he is merely a lapdog of the school board and has failed to defend the community. Certainly, he has stood by the board and its arguments. And, he argues the board is doing the right thing. But, he has not represented his constituents in their battle. Rather, he was the opposition. Hopefully, he will step down, too.