Some parents are asking why a special education school is being compared side-by-side with other academic schools during the review process.
The Greater Essex County District School Board is reviewing General Amherst, Harrow District and Kingsville District high schools alongside Western Secondary School and Harrow Public School.
Susan Cote is a parent of a child who attends Western Secondary School, which caters to those with special needs. Cote says the review process isn't comparing apples to apples. "A huge part of it, which I don't think this process is considering, is the social aspect because when they are similar or the same, they all fit in," says Cote. "When you bring kids like that into a regular school they have trouble fitting in because they're different. They get picked on, they get made fun of and that creates anxiety and mental health issues."
She says it would devastate students if Western closed and they were forced to go to a regular, academic high school. "They have to consider more than the financial aspect and I get it, I understand that money is tight and they have to do something," says Cote. "They can't go on operating at losses everywhere, but this is about more than just money. When you're talking about kids with special needs, you have to consider more than the financial impact."
The next public review meeting is on March 2 at Harrow District High School.
