tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314881.post4525560799526684038..comments2023-06-07T05:36:30.935-07:00Comments on See www.nurturedbylove.ca for the active version of this blog: A School of Common Sensemoominmammahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561834420653149624noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314881.post-15305370891933960112009-06-19T09:08:13.409-07:002009-06-19T09:08:13.409-07:00Erin, the miracle is that there is NO funding for ...Erin, the miracle is that there is NO funding for this. The people who use the school clean up very well after themselves. The custodial staff are incredibly accommodating about working around community groups as they schedule their work. For the music/arts school summer program, which is huge (3 weeks at this school, one week at another for drama), there's a direct negotiation by one of the teachers, who's also on the board of the music school, with the operations manager of the school district. The music school pays $1700 for custodial time.<br /><br />This is not a community school by any official designation. For a while the province of BC had a system for approving and funding community schools, but it ended almost as quickly as it began and our school just didn't move fast enough with its application. It functions as a community school due to the common sense community-mindedness of the custodial, teaching and administrative staff. <br /><br />Case in point -- for a performance tonight at a nearby village hall I need five nice black Manhasset music stands. I'll go to the school later today and borrow them. A teacher friend of mine will take them back on Monday.moominmammahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00561834420653149624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314881.post-53896704792469280062009-06-19T05:07:09.507-07:002009-06-19T05:07:09.507-07:00Miranda,
Do you know how this works? Is is contr...Miranda,<br /><br />Do you know how this works? Is is controlled by the school board or does a parent/community committee get the funding directly from the province/municipality? Do you know of any resources online about creating a community school?<br /><br />Our municipalities used to collect and disperse the funds here until Mike Harris the uber neo-con came in and amalgamated everything.....mini rant.<br /><br />I'm curious because we're wondering how to go about doing it here in our small town - our k-8 school has 57 students and we're always afraid it will shut down. Also, the board has transferred me out, now I'll have a long commute on dangerous winter roads. Three local teachers will be passing three other teachers...it's so stupid. Another mini rant.<br /><br />Erin in OntarioAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314881.post-25639681231423351272009-06-18T09:00:29.322-07:002009-06-18T09:00:29.322-07:00That sounds wonderful! We looked into using one of...That sounds wonderful! We looked into using one of the local schools for our kids' club and we were shocked at the cost, the paperwork and the hassle involved in renting the space! It was a real turn-off for us. We found a space in the basement of the library which was much more reasonable. With a planned major renovation to our library for this fall, we're not sure where we're going to find space. I'm reluctant to contact the school board again, though!<br /><br />It sure would be nice to have an area as open as yours seems to be!Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10342055265414788942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314881.post-37400594911669533632009-06-17T20:34:56.498-07:002009-06-17T20:34:56.498-07:00This sounds like a wonderful community resource, a...This sounds like a wonderful community resource, and you're right, it should be happening everywhere. Our son went to a "community school" from K to grade 7 but we parents were prevented from helping in the library because of the union regulations!!!Joannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16449827163911239893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314881.post-41156127058917741102009-06-17T08:15:00.188-07:002009-06-17T08:15:00.188-07:00Glad to hear you also have community minded school...Glad to hear you also have community minded schools, Meg. Thanks for sharing!moominmammahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00561834420653149624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314881.post-45254483386673068922009-06-17T07:15:40.247-07:002009-06-17T07:15:40.247-07:00Actually, many of the functions you note go on in ...Actually, many of the functions you note go on in our community schools as well. Not all, however, as the HS library is not available to the general public but we have an excellent public library that serves that purpose.<br /><br />The school grounds are used by all sports teams. The gyms are used by various sport groups and others on off-school hours. The next town over has the inter-generational orchestra practice and perfrom at their HS. Elementary schools use the upper level school faclities for various functions. A chinese language school uses our middle school on Saturdays. A drama program used one school in the evenings until recently when the situation became unworkable. Scout groups and other community organizations use the schools for meetings. I know there was an Indian cultural group that used our HS auditorium for an all-day program. The local Jaycess run their pancake breakfast in the HS cafeteria. <br /><br />There may be a small fee for some of these activities, primarily to pay for the custodial staff to stay late or ocme in on Saturday and make sure the facility is cleaned up for the school. With the tightened budget, there may be slightly higher fees for groups not related to the school district or township to use the facilities.<br /><br />Our district serves over 6500 kids. Thus, you could not simply call up an individual teacher and get them to open up the school for your group. It is just not workable with a district that size in a highly developed area, so advanced scheduling is required. Also, Sundays are probably the one day that the schools are completely closed (to give the custodial staff a break). However, if they wanted to practice on a regular basis on another day I would be the space might be available.Megnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314881.post-72518400659171295252009-06-17T06:08:47.028-07:002009-06-17T06:08:47.028-07:00Oh how I envy you your community school. It's...Oh how I envy you your community school. It's a completely different world where we live. No one is allowed in unless it's for an after school program run by the village office's recreation department - and I haven't seen one of those advertised in eons. <br /><br />What an idyllic set up.Penelopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02468104105181259827noreply@blogger.com