The plan to make Don Ross Secondary a "transition" school by eliminating Grade 10 threatens everything that makes it successful, states a letter from the school's teaching staff this month.
"Some of the programs at Don Ross that make it attractive to and effective for students are the very ones threatened by the reconfiguration proposal," states the letter, adding the document is being made public following open discussion, and with broad support of the teaching staff.
Last November and December, the school board held two public meetings to collect opinions on reconfiguration a proposal that would see Don Ross retain its Grades 8 and 9 and lose its Grade 10 students, while Howe Sound Secondary retained its Grades 10, 11 and 12 and lost its Grade 8 and 9 students.
Superintendent Dr. Rick Erickson said the proposal seeks to improve the quality of education based on grade population at both schools.
"It's important in public education that we look for opportunities to improve student learning and it's really important that we have these discussions," said Erickson.
But Don Ross teachers say the proposal fixes another school's problems to their detriment.
"The staff at Don Ross prides itself on doing an effective job with students and doesn't want that compromised by a reconfiguration model, which attempts to correct programming issues at another school."
The grade swap is being proposed for implementation in September 2010 or 2011, leading Don Ross faculty to raise questions over the "rush," and the burden on staff needing to co-ordinate details such as transfer of records.
"A more in-depth consultation phase of the reconfiguration proposal is required in order to take a meticulous look at the individuals affected and how the new trends will affect students in subsequent years," states the letter.
The teachers also feel the use of Don Ross as merely a transition from elementary to high school would kill school spirit, and the loss of Grade 10 students would be detrimental to leadership in the arts, athletics, theatre, French, technology and academics.
"The role modeling that students at the senior grades provide to Grade 8s and 9s in these programs is irreplaceable," states the letter.
Don Ross would also lose its highly touted Outdoor Leadership program, which runs only for Grade 10 students.
"It is a point of Don Ross School pride that has taken several years to evolve into what it is today, and it is not economically feasible to the community (who provides financial support) to run it at both schools," states the letter.
The teachers also said the process of staffing "must be clear and fair" and include a mutual agreement "to maintain morale, and create a positive environment of commitment in which all our students can benefit."
The letter was presented to the Sea to Sky School Board a few weeks ago, and Erickson explained away most its critical points in an interview with The Chief.
"The programs would still be there," he said. "With more kids in Grade 8 and more kids in Grade 9, the activity and school culture potential is unlimited. I wouldn't see it as a negative factor."
He said if the Outdoor Leadership program remains solely for Grade 10s, than it would simply move to Howe Sound.
And the loss of Grade 10 students does not equate to a loss of role models, as the Don Ross teachers suggest, said Erickson.
"No matter at what school that you're at, the older grades are the role models. Whatever happens that role group is there, whether that's elementary, junior of senior secondary."
However Erickson did acknowledge the concerns over timeliness.
"By the month of February we're to put together an implementation plan based on the board's decision on when the program would start."
An additional bus will also have to be purchased, said Erickson, which is paid for by the province with the driver and maintenance costing the district $30,000 annually.
"That's the only additional expense, and the savings will be of an educational program nature - resources and textbooks for example."
Erickson said the fact that the board is going forward despite the teachers' rejection of the idea shouldn't lead to an assumption the board was determined to implement the plan no matter what feedback they received.
"The board has passed a motion that says they approve the program in principle," he said. "It was a proposal and the board was never married to the concept either way. It was a proposal to be looked at, it was looked at and various points of view considered."
"The great strength of public education is balancing those different points of view and coming up with solutions to assist kids in their learning."
