Covid-19 has swept the world, changing the social norms and expectations of the public. However in Hardisty, a rural community in Alberta, the impact goes beyond unforeseen consequences.
The only school for the community, Allan Johnstone K-9 School, has been ruled non-viable and has subsequently been closed. As the town sits on the border of the Battle River school division, high-schoolers travel the 32km to Central High Sedgewick Public School (CHSPS) for free that lies in the Buffalo Trail school division.
After the shut-down of the school, parents began to ponder their options. Some did not want to or feel comfortable sending their children to schools in Sedgewick. There was a lack of trust after the school board closed Allan Johnstone; many parents are frustrated with the board, criticizing their emphasis on provincial funding, rather than looking for a solution for these families. Instead, said families opted to send their children to surrounding communities that fall in the Buffalo Trail school division. However, some conflicts began to arise from this. School board members and division leaders all denied access to transportation outside the boundaries of the Buffalo Trail. After the denial, parents began to pitch negotiations such as changing or moderating bus lines between both school divisions, and again they were denied.
To mediate this unwillingness of the school divisions, parents and families began to fundraise for the $48,000 fee per year necessary to transport across the school division borders. The community rallied together through silent auctions and bottle drives, to raise $36,000 (Sept. 2020). To supplement the rest, families pay $40 per month for each child to use the transportation. This fee however presents an issue in accessibility. If families cannot afford the fee, they will be forced to attend schools they might not feel comfortable with due to the critical financial nature of the Battle River school division, or because of the broken trust. The solution however, is unsustainable for Hardisty from many perspectives. Mayor Doug Irving, says that the closure of the school in Hardisty is a major loss and that he has already seen some families leave Hardisty.
The lack of a school in the community is also a worrying concept for many companies in the areas who are concerned that their contractors, employees, or service providers may be unable to remain in their positions. When asked, Minister of Education - Adriana LaGrange voiced her support and respect for the authority of the Battle River school divisions. The school remains closed. Many in the community keep hoping for solutions and help from their political leaders. Blake Moser, a member of Hardisty with a child about to attend Allan Johnstone before it closed, says:
“If Hardisty can't make it, then rural Alberta can't make it."
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