Dear Editor,

The Durham District School Board is going through a bureaucratic process for justifying the closure of Donevan Collegiate. They claim declining enrollment means the school has to close, because large schools are better.
They want the board to decide by May 2010 and close Donevan next year, in September 2010. Why so quick? 
Guess what? 2010 is an election year for trustees and they appear to not want to have to justify closing a school in an election. What better time and way for a truly public consultation than an election?
We tried to contact elected trustees Kathleen Hopper and Michael Barrett, but they did not respond. It appears they just want the bureaucrats to run the Durham District School Board and decide on closures.
Delay the closing till at least 2011 so we can debate the merits of its closing in the election for trustees in October, 2010.
Alternately, close it over a few years. When Donevan opened in 1958, students already attending OCVI or Central (the other two high schools in Oshawa at the time) could remain there and only those students entering Grade 9 were required to attend Donevan if they lived within its boundaries. 
Let those who are in Grades 10 and 11 now finish their high school years at Donevan.
Why the hurry? 
What is the hidden agenda here?
 
 Ron Dancey