Five years after the last brouhaha, Bridge Lake Elementary School (BLES) is

under threat of squeezing its nearly 50 students into two classes (Gardes K-3 and Grades 4-7).

It is generally accepted that split grade classes work quite comfortably. However, that is not the case with four-split classes.

Kindergartners are having “fun.” Grades 1 and 2 are learning the ropes, the basics, the rules. In Grade 3, students start moving forward at an individual speed. Grades 3-7 students would have trouble getting help with the suggested teaching complement of one principle/teacher; one full-time teacher; and one part-time teacher including the Learning Support teacher’s hours.

Parent Luca Lanzoni, a graduate in business administration, is spearheading the group opposing these changes and suggests that a maximum of two grades per class is acceptable. The father of two children, ages four and eight, both born here, Lanzoni has formed the Bridge Lake Community Centre Association of concerned people. Their stance includes the fact that any amount of downsizing creates a snowball effect.

A group of area professionals is willing to donate

their time to create a pilot project to save the school district considerable money and be available to all rural schools. Within School District 27’s budget of $70 million, 30 of which goes to wages, Lanzoni figures that 10 million is “wasted” to whit: “They sent a man with a truck to take down four signs before painting our school, and then sent him back to replace the four screws afterwards. Anyone could have done that. And the $30,000 painting job could have been done by locals for around $7,000. They’re running out of money because they’re wasting it. With a more efficient use of funds, they would be able to hire more teachers, not let some go. We really want to help, make it a win-win situation beneficial to everyone.”

SD 27 paid the school the courtesy of their attention when superintendent Dianne Wright, assistant superintendent Harj Manhas, secretary-treasurer Bonnie Roller, school trustee Will Van Osch and MLA Donna Barnett attended a June 17 meeting at the school to discuss staffing. Nigh on 100 residents attended the meeting.

While they paid formal attention, the school district said they could not supply answers until September but, according to Lanzoni, “The population of Bridge Lake is increasing and we have two large developments going in. We cannot wait ‘til September if we want to avoid the snowball effect.”

On June 19 and 23, with healthy media coverage, BLES families staged protests by congregating outside the school rather than entering it. At 9:30 a.m., the families left and the students headed to class.

MLA Barnett recognizes that the group is being proactive and the reorganization of the system could be a pilot project benefitting all rural schools, and has agreed to deliver such a formal project to the ministry.

Lanzoni asserts, “If they give us a little power, we would spend November to April looking into the numbers and finish up saving them 10 million.”