There Are Many Dogs Salivating Over Prospect Of Off-Leash Park
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Peterborough Blogs
The Truth About Why Closing PCVS Would Be A Huge Blow To Our Community
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THE PHILLIPS REPORTOnce again the public, and private, discussions about the closing of a Peterborough high school have sunk into anecdote and vitriol. Virtually all of the discussion surrounds loyalties—neighbourhood, school, alumni—or mythical nostalgia. As the final decision by the publically elected Board at the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB) approaches, it is time to refocus the discussion on financial and economic realities.
Before addressing these issues, it is important consider the role of the Board and the role of its senior management. The Board is elected to see that the KPRDSB has the strategies, policies, facilities, finances, and administration are in place so that the organization—overseen by the senior managers it employs—can provide the best education possible given the resources. Importantly, the Board is responsible to its funders—property taxpayers (residential and business) in Peterborough and the taxpayers of Ontario. The Board’s senior administration must take these resources and deliver the required educational services. There is a clear distinction between the role of the publically elected Board and the role of the administrative staff it employs.
The Board now finds itself in a position where the facts show that there is declining enrolment in Peterborough high schools and more schools than are necessary to deliver its educational services. With very similar education services being delivered at the existing schools for several decades, it is difficult to argue that one fewer high school would put the Board in a position where it would be unable to fulfill its mandate.
In financial terms, declining high school enrolment and an abundance of property and facilities puts the Board in a position where it has the opportunity to consolidate its operations, sell some valuable property, and use the funds to deliver educational services, and, perhaps, provide taxpayers with some relief from ever-increasing educational property taxes.
After the contentious review process was completed, I was pleased to see that the Board added its offices to be part of the mix. With little commercial land available in the industrial parks in the City, the Board could sell its property (a value in the millions of dollars) in the industrial park and consolidate its operations in an existing high school. This is a creative response to a complex decision. However, after this creative financial option was offered by the Board, the pubic debate became increasingly entrenched in anything but the financial, economic, and administrative realities.
In economic terms, the issue centers on the future of PCVS. Beyond the issues of its property value (which is the lowest—according to Board’s own property evaluations—of all the properties being considered, and the least likely to lower education property taxes), the significance of the school in terms of its value to the community and its role in economic development were practically ignored. Many of the initiatives to renew and expand the infrastructures of the downtowns of Ontario communities are to increase, not decrease, the downtown’s population density. More importantly, a high school in the downtown represents a source of current and future creative talent.
Just over 100 kilometres from downtown Peterborough, at the University of Toronto, is an internationally recognized leader in economic development—Richard Florida. His research describes the significance of the "creative class" and its ability to interact at a social level in city cores as a key contributor to local economic growth. Even with him being an advisor on economic growth to the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, it seems as though his message is more readily heard further away, rather than closer to home.
There is little doubt that a downtown high school contributes in many ways to the economic development of a city. I have yet to come across any evidence, from Richard Florida’s point of view, or any other approach to economic development that would suggest that removing a downtown school would contribute to a community’s economic development in a positive way.
Basically, as much as there are compelling, anecdotal and nostalgic arguments to close PCVS, there is little substance—financial, economic, or administrative—to the arguments. This must be recognized as the Board’s takes its decision.
Earlier this year, I was given the opportunity to present this case in a ten minute presentation to the KPRDSB’s Accommodation Review Committee (ARC). After that presentation, I was given some feedback from a member of the committee that my presentation would have had more credibility if I had not been, "clearly," a PCVS alumnus and supporter.
On that point, I need to set the record straight. I did graduate from PCVS. However, I disliked high school immensely. In hindsight, my five years of high school were insignificant given my subsequent academic pursuits. The fact that those five years were spent at PCVS has nothing to with the case I am making. My position comes from my community and professional perspective, not a nostalgic view. I trust that the Board’s decision will be made in the same spirit.
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[Contributed by PtboCanada's Tom Phillips Ph. D. Phillips is Economist & Sustainability Director - Greater Ptbo Innovation Cluster.]
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The Terry Fox Run Takes Place This Sunday At Nicholls Oval
/The annual Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research takes place on Sunday, September 18th, with our local one beginning that day at 8 a.m. at Nicholls Oval. The route is also bicycle, rollerblade, and wheelchair friendly.
[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]
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There Is A Band-A-Thon In Support Of Zoo's New Animal Health Centre September 18th
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On Sunday, September 18th, the Peterborough New Horizons Bands will be presenting a band-a-thon in support of the Peterborough Riverview Zoo’s Animal Healthcare Centre fundraising campaign.
Eight bands will be playing from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the zoo’s gazebo. Drop by, enjoy the music and make a contribution towards the building of a new Animal Health Centre. Rain date is September 25th.
[photo via Riverview Zoo website]
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Climb Over To The Newly Re-Opened Rock & Rope Climbing Centre
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May Myklebust and Wayne Smith held a grand re-opening celebration for their Rock & Rope business to a packed house yesterday. May and Wayne recently purchased the climbing centre and have worked around the clock to renovate it. Rock & Rope features many climbing walls with numerous routes to take, as well as a bouldering cave to help improve your skills. They also offer classes, team-building retreats, kids parties and equipment rentals.
Happy owners Wayne and May
Rock & Rope is open between noon and 9 p.m. 7 days a week at 16-280 Perry Street. You can follow Rock & Rope on Facebook and Twitter.
For more photos, head over to TrailSwag, an outdoors blog for Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]
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Revenge Of The Turtles Night Is This Thursday At The Venue
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More info here on this event Facebook page.
[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]
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Pay Extra Close Attention To These Signs Starting Tomorrow Morning
/Just a reminder to all be mindful and extra alert Tuesday morning as school buses are back on the roads and children will be walking to school. Don't rush, and leave yourself that few extra minutes. Good luck to all as they head back to class.
[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]
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Check Out This Awesome New Community Biking Poster
/Jeffrey Macklin, a regular contributor to PtboCanada and talented artist, just released this new letterpress poster "Get To Know Your Community—Ride A Bike". Very cool. And so true. You can order it here.
[Etsy: Get To Know Your Community—Ride A Bike]
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Does Peterborough Need A Town Hall Meeting To Address Safety In The Community?
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No doubt Peterborough is an amazing city in many many ways as we trumpet all the time here. We live in one of the greatest cities anywhere. But this post isn't about that great stuff. It's about the growing concerns many in the community have about unemployment, drugs (and more drugs), break and enters, robberies, domestics, and safety in the downtown (Exhibit A: man holds knife to a person's throat; Exhibit B: bloodied man with an axe).
Three people have been murdered in the city already this year—the latest earlier this week—and well, people are talking about this stuff and what can be done. Sure there is often a correlation between unemployment and crime, but still, people want answers about what can be done about it and safety in the community.
Cameras downtown and care meters and such are all good to a certain extent, but they are also bandaids. There has to be more effective ways for us to stand up and look after our community, and have each other's backs so to speak. If you allow all these things to fester, they don't just magically go away.
We raised the question on Twitter earlier this week about whether the Mayor's office should consider organizing a Town Hall meeting to bring the police chief, politicians and other community leaders together in one space to create a public forum for citizens to air their concerns, and to hear what our leaders have to say. Do it at the Memorial Centre, do it at the Venue, do it at Trentwinds—just find a space and try it. What's the harm? As one person on Twitter suggested, "The only way to effect change is through action. If the powers that be don't hear people's voices, we'll have more of the same."
Now we asked Mayor Bennett about the idea of a Town Hall meeting and here's 
what he had to say: "Thanks for the suggestion. The items that you have listed are some of the concerns that the City and Councillors address on a daily basis, and we have a public Committee process in place that is intended to engage people who are concerned about them. My suggestion is to direct concerns to your local Councillors so that they can assist by bringing the questions forward; contact the City Clerk so that you or a group of people can make a presentation to Council; and to take advantage of the currency of the Provincial election to compel some accountability for the many responsibilities that fall within the provincial jurisdiction. If my office can be of help in making any or all of these happen, just let me know."
So is that enough? Can they be doing more? Can we be doing more? What do you think about this notion of a Town Hall meeting? Or is this all being overblown and the same stuff happens in any community?
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Watch The Fastest Bike Ride Ever Through Peterborough
/Also, way to bring that funky music.
[YouTube]
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