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Comments by others to this web-page - 1 - to this web-page at time of posting. Mississauga News - Feb. 13, 2012 - By Torstar NetworkPeel, Halton take opposite approaches to naming schools Critics of the naming of a new elementary school on Hartsdale Rd. are pointing to the significant differences in policy for naming schools school in Peel and neighbouring Halton Region to the west.
In Halton, students, parents and community members can send their suggestions by letter or fax, comment online or fill out a form at school. Even local library patrons are asked to put in their two cents' worth.
Historical societies also chip in and there's a public meeting to share opinions.
In Peel, it was the opposite recently. The latest name change there was done with no consultation. A vote was taken in private and announced to the public without any warning.
That decision by Peel District School Board trustees — to rename Hartsdale Avenue school after current board chair Janet McDougald — has sparked considerable controversy.
In stark contrast, the Halton District School Board is already asking for submissions before trustees vote in April on a name for a new elementary school in Burlington.
Even if the school is to be named after a living person — as Peel argued was the reason for its secrecy — that still comes under public scrutiny in Halton. Halton board spokesperson Marnie Denton, who chairs the meeting at which community submissions are shortlisted, said the library is a great partner in the process.
"We have (forms) in the feeder schools. We also have it online, so really any community member can provide a submission," she said. "We shortlist to no more than five names," but trustees receive the full list of suggestions. Two trustees, staff, the principal and a parent also sit on the shortlist committee.
"We are always worried we are going to get (suggestion) fatigue," she said, but so far that hasn't happened, she said.
The Peel board has come under fire from many residents, including the local ratepayers' group.
Parents started a petition and have asked that the decision be reversed, to no avail.
The Peel board has said it will "discuss" its policy in future but has made no immediate plans to do so.
Comments by others - 1 - to this web-page at time of posting;
Fartleberry Feb 13, 2012 9:24 AM
I'm waiting
for the board to say the signs are already made up at a cost of $50,000 and if we change the name now the money will come out of school lunches for orphans. That's the way they operate. Such hubris.
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