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Parents urge Ontario SD 8C to halt rural school closures; principals say reconfiguration aims to boost equity and supports
Summary
At Monday’s board meeting, parents criticized the district’s February decision to shift to grade‑level schooling and close Cairo and Pioneer, citing lack of transparency and community harm; district principals defended the change as research‑based and focused on student supports and equity.
Parents and district leaders clashed at a Monday evening Ontario SD 8C board meeting over the district’s move to grade‑level schooling and the planned closure of rural schools Cairo and Pioneer. Several parents urged the board to reconsider the February decision, while school principals described planning intended to protect instruction and student supports.
Shelby Long, speaking during public comment, called the closures a "forced change" that would "affect our children" and said petitioners gathered "approximately 600 signatures" opposing the move. Parents at the meeting raised concerns about siblings being separated by school…
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