• Home
  • Stories
    • News >
      • 2022 Local Government Elections
    • Learning & Literacy
    • Food, Farming & Fishing >
      • Recipe Collection
    • Culture & Heritage
    • Wellness
    • Environment
    • Opinions, letters and reflections
  • About Us
    • Donate
  • Jobs
    • Job Posting Submission Form
    • Job Postings
  • E-magazine
  • Calendar
  • Albert County
    • Community Directory
    • Churches
    • Living in Albert County
    • Our Villages
    • Attractions
  • Ads
  • Trails
Connecting Albert County

culture and
​heritage

Request for Support for Riverside Consolidated School

24/2/2015

9 Comments

 
PicturePhoto by Mike Buck, Save Riverside School Facebook
Last week, members of the Anglophone East School District (AESD) and the District Education Council (DEC), passed a motion to commence with a sustainability study on two rural schools – Riverside Consolidated School and Dorchester Consolidated School.

Tasked with finding greater efficiencies within the education system, they chose to examine infrastructure cuts instead of programming.

Riverside Consolidated School, located in Riverside-Albert, serves the communities of Riverside-Albert, Alma and surrounding areas. The results of the study could lead to the permanent closure of the school as early as June 2015.

**Note: the public meetings are posted on the Connecting Albert County Calendar.**

 The detailed time line of meetings and decisions can be found here.

The children affected by this closure – ages 4 to 10 – would be bussed to Hillsborough Elementary School, an option that parents feel is unacceptable.
 
Kelly Edgett, speaking as Chair of the Parent School Support Committee (PSSC), is appealing to stakeholders and parents across Albert County to consider the long-term and far-reaching impacts of school closure on the community as a whole, and to consider sending letters of support to elected officials and members of the AESD and DEC (email addresses below).

One of the points made by PSSC is the distance between communities, frequent stops, and the roundabout routes that buses take to pick up and deliver students.

“Buses, as we know, do not travel in straight lines,” says Edgett. “Currently, the student with the longest bus ride travelling from West River to Caledonia Regional High School travels 219 km per day (109.5 km each way). We have accepted this reality for our middle and high school students. This is not acceptable for elementary students.”  

She notes that if Riverside Consolidated School is closed, “a kindergarten student living in Alma will travel 68.6 km to attend Hillsborough Elementary. Even with a minimum of stops, this trip will take 1 hr and 31 minutes on a fine weather day, meaning the young children will spend 3 hours each day on a bus. To put this in perspective, a Kindergarten to Grade 2 student spends 5 hours in the classroom. More than half of this time will be spent traveling.”
 
A letter distributed to residents from PSSC states: 

“Reasonable access to education is imperative to people who work in this region. Our area, home of the UNESCO Fundy Biosphere Reserve, draws people from all over the world to explore and discover. The completion of the $22.8-million Fundy Trail Parkway set for 2018, predicts a huge increase in tourist traffic. Parks Canada is investing millions of dollars into Fundy National Park's infrastructure, programs, and projects. The New Brunswick government has recently completed the new $12-million Forest Dale Nursing Home facility in Riverside-Albert. With the continued existence of Riverside Consolidated School our communities can remain strong and vibrant.

“We, the parents of current, future, and past students of Riverside Consolidated, urgently request that the Anglophone East School District and District Education Council recognize the impact of denying reasonable access to education in our communities.”
 
The letter also asks concerned residents to get involved by writing letters and by sharing the information with others. “We respectfully request that you read the following information, as it concerns the community as a whole, and fill the inboxes of the people listed at the bottom of the letter with your support,” the letter states.

These people include:
serge.rousselle@gnb.ca, Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development
brian.keirstead@gnb.ca, MLA, Albert County
Gregg.Ingersoll@gnb.ca, Superintendent, Anglophone East School District
tamara.nichol@nbed.nb.ca, Chair, District Education Council
htdoyle@rogers.com, Representative for Albert County on the District Education Council
barry.snider@nbed.nb.ca, Principal, Riverside Consolidated School

Further information

To see the PSSC letter, click here.

To learn more about policy information on school closures, see Policy 409 “Multi-Year School Infrastructure Planning” - section 6.4.2 (page 5 of 9).

To read CBC's coverage of the story, click here.

Save Riverside School Facebook Site

9 Comments
Ryan
25/2/2015 02:18:19 am

I have personally travelled to and worked at Riverside Consolidated a couple of times during my short time as a supply teacher 4 years ago. This school was full of character and truly exemplified the community the students were from. I believe that Riverside Consolidated is a school that embraces its surroundings, one of my times there the students took a trip to the local park which was a few minutes drive away from the school, this trip was one that showed the students what their community has to offer. This school does have small class sizes, but it offers a huge benefit to these students.

Reply
Maxine Mainville
25/2/2015 05:42:21 am

I realize everything is about dollars and cents but how is this even up for discussion?

Reply
Rosa Geldart
25/2/2015 08:50:34 am

These children deserve an education without the extended daily commute. They need accommodated, not penalized.

Reply
Marie Henwood
25/2/2015 09:45:32 am

This is unacceptable. I went to this school then had to go Hillsborough for High School. The days were extremely long and exhausting. I still remember those long bus trips and the toll it took on me. Why is the Government being so uncaring to our rural children and parents. Not impressed!!

Reply
Tanya
26/2/2015 01:47:53 pm

I attended this school from k-7 then went to Hillsborough. I remember the bus rides from Albert were a little over 30 minutes and then I moves to cape enrage and had to be on the bus by 7am to be at school by 8:10. This was exhausting and my grades showed it from then on. This is not an acceptable commute for anyone let alone small children... How do they expect these kids many with disabilities (ADHD, ODD, Autism) to be able to sit on a bus for up to an hour and a half just to get to hillsborough elementry and then sit in a class room for 2 hours? It is not fair to the children... The school board needs to be put on a bus told to sit down and be quiet and go for a trip on our roads.. This is not even mentioning storm days when all we have are one lane roads down here and busses are expected to still travel to Hillsborough because the city streets are cleared they expect the country streets to be too and unfortunately most mornings the plows don't even do there first trip on the main streets till 7am let alone the side streets and the route 915.... This is putting our kids lives in danger having to drive that much further... Sorry rant over

Reply
Margaret McQuinn
3/3/2015 12:32:25 am

I agree with all the above and hope the school keeps going

Reply
Jody Taylor
3/3/2015 01:34:01 am

There are many negative effects that result from the students being on the bus for longer periods of time. According to Jimerson (2007) and Howley and Howley (2001),

* Students with the longer commute of sixty minutes or more tend to participate less in extracurricular activities.

* Students with long bus rides have little time to spend with family after arriving home from school.

* Homework may suffer, time to relax and sleep are diminished because they have an early commute each morning.

* Sleep deprivation can lead to a depressed immune system.

* Parents are more likely to keep their children home.

* Physical activity decreases as down time on the school bus is normally a time when children could be playing. Getting exercise is important in preventing childhood obesity.

*Bullying as older children are left unsupervised with very young children on the bus.

* Negative impact that older children have on younger children by exposing them to ideas and language that is inappropriate for the age group.

* Negative correlation between the length of bus rides and student achievement.

* Quality of the roads. If the children must travel long distances to school, it is of the utmost importance that the bus routes be properly maintained to ensure their safety.
There are many negative effects that result from the students being on the bus for longer periods of time. According to Jimerson (2007) and Howley and Howley (2001),

* Students with the longer commute of sixty minutes or more tend to participate less in extracurricular activities.

* Students with long bus rides have little time to spend with family after arriving home from school.

* Homework may suffer, time to relax and sleep are diminished because they have an early commute each morning.

* Sleep deprivation can lead to a depressed immune system.

* Parents are more likely to keep their children home.

* Physical activity decreases as down time on the school bus is normally a time when children could be playing. Getting exercise is important in preventing childhood obesity.

*Bullying as older children are left unsupervised with very young children on the bus.

* Negative impact that older children have on younger children by exposing them to ideas and language that is inappropriate for the age group.

* Negative correlation between the length of bus rides and student achievement.

* Quality of the roads. If the children must travel long distances to school, it is of the utmost importance that the bus routes be properly maintained to ensure their safety.

Reply
Pamela Stokes
3/3/2015 02:22:44 am

No child should ever be on a bus that long to go to school!! To put their safety at risk more by being on the roads longer, having to get up even earlier and I'm sure most will miss out on play and outdoor fun because it'll be later when they get home. This shouldn't even be considered in my opinion. Terrible idea to close!!

Reply
Kimberley Jonah
3/3/2015 11:01:19 am

They should not close this school, it will be hard for the young students to travel a long way. This school has also raised alot of money to help those in need.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Culture & Heritage

    ​Connecting Albert County would like to thank the following supporters & advertisers:

    Platinum supporters
    - Bennett and Albert County Health Care (BACH) Foundation  
    ​- Albert County Pharmacy
    ​​- Hon. Rob Moore, MP for Fundy Royal


    Gold supporters
    - CBDC Westmorland Albert 
    - ​Albert County Funeral Home​​


    Silver supporters
    - 
    Albert County Chamber of Commerce 
    ​ - Foods of the Fundy Valley​
    - Hon. Mike Holland, Minister, MLA-Albert 

     - Fundy Highlands Motel and Chalets

    Bronze supporters
    - ​Chipoudy Communities Revitalization Committee (CCRC)

    - Jeff MacDougall, SouthEastern Mutual Insurance ​

    If you would like to support Connecting Albert County, visit our Advertising page or Donation page. With your support, we can continue to share the news of rural Albert County.

    Comments
    We welcome comments to our blog postings. Please provide your email address and name with your comment, and respect our content guidelines.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014

    Categories

    All
    150th
    200th Anniversary
    27th Battalion
    60th Anniversary
    Abiel Peck
    Aboiteaux
    Aboriginal
    Abraham Gesner
    AC175
    Acadian Culture
    Acadian Expulsion
    Acadian Resistance
    Acadians In Albert County
    ACTA
    Activities
    Albert County
    Albert County 175
    Albert County Cancer Walk
    Albert County Exhibition
    Albert County HIstorical Society
    Albert County Historical Society
    Albert County Museum
    Albert County NB
    Albertite
    Albert MLA
    Alma
    Alma Fire Department
    Amalgamation
    Anniversary
    Armistice
    Armour Transportation
    Art
    Artisans
    Artists
    Arts
    Arts And Crafts
    Association Heritage NB
    Atlantic National
    Baby Shower
    BACH Foundation
    Back In The Day
    Bagpipes
    Ball
    Banners
    Bar Mitzvah
    Bat Mitzvah
    Bay Of Fundy
    Beausoleil
    Bible
    Board Game
    Broadleaf Ranch
    Brownies
    Buy Local
    Caledonia Mountain
    Camelia Airheart!
    Canada 150
    Canada Day
    Cannon
    Cape Enrage
    Car Show
    Carve
    Carving
    CCGS Captain Molly Kool
    CCRC
    CEDC
    Celebration
    Celebrations
    Celtic Music
    Cemeteries
    Ceremony
    Chase The Ace
    Childhood
    Childhood Memories
    Children
    Children's Book
    Chocolate River Publishing
    Christmas
    Christmas Parade
    Church
    Classic Cars
    Community
    Community Groups
    Community Spirit
    Connecting Albert County
    Corporate Events
    Covered Bridge
    Crooked Creek Adventures
    Crooked Creek Convenience
    Culture
    Curryville
    Curryville Community Center
    December
    Devil's Loft
    Diamond Jubilee
    Donald Bishop
    Donate
    Donations
    Don Coleman
    Dorothy Brzezicki
    Dr. Black
    Dream Team Canada
    Dr. Tingley
    Dykes
    Elgin
    Embroidered Cards
    Event
    Events
    Exhibit
    Exhibition
    Exhibitions
    Experiences
    Fair
    Female Sea Captain
    Fibre Arts
    Fiddle
    Figurine
    Fishing
    Fishing Boats
    Flag Ceremony
    Fleet Launch
    Folk Festival
    Follow The Goose Butt
    Foods Of The Fundy Valley
    Friends Of Fundy
    Fundraising
    Fundy Ceilidh
    Fundy Guild
    Fundy National Park
    Fundy Park
    Fundy Quilt Show
    Fundy Royal MP
    Fundy Strategic Tourism Plan
    Fundy Studio Tour
    Fundy Sugar Woods Festival
    Garden
    Gardening
    Gardens
    Gary Steeves Insurance
    Gender Reveal
    Ghosts
    Ghouls
    Girl Guides
    Girls
    Goblins
    Government
    Grass Roots
    Grindstone Island
    Growing Up In Albert County
    Guides
    Harp
    Harvey
    Harvey Hall
    Harvey School
    Headstone
    Heritage
    Heritage Awards
    Heritage Fair
    Hillsborough
    Hillsborough Baptist Church
    Hillsborough Elementary
    Hillsborough Farmers Market
    Hillsborough Kiwanis
    Hillsborough Public Library
    Historical Society
    History
    Holmstrom
    Hopewell Cape
    Hopewell Cape Museum
    Hopewell Hill
    Hurrr
    Ian Duncan
    Icebreaker
    Investment
    Irish
    Jerusalem Marketplace
    Joseph Broussard
    Kiwanis
    Lewis Steeves
    Life Membership
    Lifetime Membership
    Lighthouse
    Lobster
    Local
    Local Author
    Logging
    Lois Snider
    Maple Sugar
    Market
    Members
    Memorial Banners
    Memories
    Molly Kool
    Molly Kool\
    Molly Kool Award
    Monarchy
    Monument
    Mount Pleasant Events Centre
    Museum
    Music
    Nature
    NB
    New Brunswick
    New Brunswick Railway Museum
    Newcomers
    New Horton
    Nominations
    Oaks
    Octopus Garden Cafe
    Outdoor Activities
    Paddle For A Cause
    Parade
    Pathfinders
    Peace Park
    Peck Colonial House
    Petitcodiac River
    Pierre Thibodeau
    Pirates
    Plant
    Platinum Jubilee
    Poem
    Pottery
    Prime Minister Bennett
    Programming
    Progress
    Project
    Queen Elizabeth II
    Quilt
    Quilt And Fibre Arts Show And Sale
    Quilting
    Quilts
    Quilt Tour
    Raffle
    RA Fire Department
    Railroad
    R. B. Bennett
    R.B. Bennett
    RB Bennett Centre
    Remembrance Day
    Repairs
    Rersurgo Place
    Restoration
    Restore
    Rising Tide Festival
    Rising Tide Trails & Tunes Team
    Riverside Albert
    Riverside-Albert
    Riverside-Albert Fire Department
    Riverside Consolidated School
    Riverview Arts Centre
    Riverview Arts Seniors Connect
    Role Model
    Royal Theatre
    Rural
    Rural Fair
    Rural School
    Salem & Hillsborough Railroad
    Salmon River
    Sara Liptay
    Sawmill Creek Covered Bridge
    School
    School Closure
    School Garden
    Scrub
    S&C's Ice Cream
    Sea Shanty
    Season
    Seniors
    Shepody
    Shepody Days
    Shepody Food Bank
    Shoe Tree
    Sistema
    Small Businesses
    Soap Box Derby
    Song
    Songwriter
    Sparks
    Spinning
    Spring Activities
    Steeves 150
    Steeves Family Reunion
    Steve Arsenault
    Stories
    Summer
    Tablut
    Tales-from-the-creek
    Tartan
    Teledrive
    Tele Drive Albert County
    Tele-Drive Albert County
    Thank You
    The Incredibly Truthful Diary Of Nature Girl
    The Welsh Tornado
    This Is My Canada
    Thomas Calhoun
    Tickets
    Tides
    Tourism
    Traditions
    Trail Ambassador
    Trains
    Update
    Urban/Rural Rides
    Variety Show
    Veteran
    Veterans
    Victory Campaign
    Video
    Viking
    Vimy Ridge
    Volunteer
    Wabanaki Tree Spirit Tours
    Walk For Hope
    Weaving
    Wedding
    Welcome
    Wellness
    Westmorland County
    Wilson
    Winner
    Winter
    Woman's Institute
    Workshops
    World War 1
    Yoga
    Young Adult Fiction

    RSS Feed

CONTACT
ADVERTISING
CALENDAR
PUBLICATION

SiteLock
Copyright © Connecting Albert County, 2021 | Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada
  • Home
  • Stories
    • News >
      • 2022 Local Government Elections
    • Learning & Literacy
    • Food, Farming & Fishing >
      • Recipe Collection
    • Culture & Heritage
    • Wellness
    • Environment
    • Opinions, letters and reflections
  • About Us
    • Donate
  • Jobs
    • Job Posting Submission Form
    • Job Postings
  • E-magazine
  • Calendar
  • Albert County
    • Community Directory
    • Churches
    • Living in Albert County
    • Our Villages
    • Attractions
  • Ads
  • Trails