Dear Ministik Parents,

We have received from our MLA Member Estafania Cortes-Vargas an email regarding an answer from the Minister of Education indicating that:

“School boards are responsible for making decisions about school closures, according to the basic requirements set out in the Closure of Schools Regulation. Boards have this responsibility because locally elected trustees are in the best position to evaluate and respond to the unique circumstances and priorities of the communities they serve. My department looked at the process the board used for Ministik School and determined that it followed the regulation; we found no deficiencies or irregularities.

Once a board decision has been made to close a school, there is no legislated role for the Minister in the school closure process, other than to be notified (together with the Minister of Infrastructure) of the board decision.”

The result of this email from the Education Minister will be discussed tonight April 11, 2017 at Ministik School regarding options available to us. It is imperative that as many parents as possible attend for a variety of reasons! We hope that we at least get a majority of parents. Don’t forget that baby-sitting is provided.

From Pauline Gurnett

PAC Chair

Ministik School is a K-6 school with 128 students located on Highway 14. It serves the rural communities between South Cooking Lake and Tofield with strong academics, vibrant community outreach programs, and an open and caring environment for all who come through its doors. One of the longest-running schools in Elk Island, Ministik is a much-loved community school in the heart of the Ministik area.

But on December 15, 2016 the Elk Island Public Schools Board of Trustees (EIPS) decided to begin exploring the question of potentially closing Ministik Public school. Since then, Ministik School and its Parents’ Association Council have been hard at work to ensure this vibrant, growing school remains open to serve its rural community. The EIPS will make its final decision on Ministik’s future on March 16, 2017. Let your voice be heard and help Ministik continue to serve its students, local families, and broader community.