Education leaders and local government have a closely linked relationship. The health and viability of a community is often very dependent upon access to a school and vice versa. Changes to school programming have the potential of ripple impacts in the community. Rural population trends often have a direct impact on school enrolment. In the same way, the location and proximity to a school can be a vital asset or even a determining factor when individuals or families consider relocating to a community.
According to Ron Kostyshyn, Reeve for the Mossey River Municipality and Parkland representative for the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, our planning priorities between the education sector and municipal government work in tandem. Reeve Kostyshyn identified that any opportunities to enhance a municipal tax base are always at the focus of local promotion and decision making. Access to quality education in a small community, is a huge asset which contributes to the fabric of the community life. He stated that access to a school provides valuable amenities which assist in marketing a community’s assets and encouraging relocation. The spin off benefits when someone new moves into a community have a domino impact on housing and all other services within a community. This symbiotic relationship is much more prominent from a rural lens and holds true for the communities located within Mountain View School Division (MVSD).
Recently, MVSD met with local leaders to reconnect, following the height of the pandemic. The conversation also focused on a review of current ward boundaries and potential changes. Equitable representation is a priority when considering the local population base and its distribution within MVSD’s catchment area. The Division contains a huge geographical area with both larger and more sparsely populated communities. Ensuring local voice is effectively represented, while determining efficiencies and size in board composition, is a balancing act. Further public consultation is necessary to ensure that any change reflects the forecasted needs of a community and local leadership is vital to this gauge.
Shared partnership opportunities between municipal and Indigenous leadership within MVSD’s footprint reflect many mutual priorities and the need to shift and fit changing circumstances as we enter a pandemic recovery phase. Public health restrictions have prevented community use of schools for nearly two years. For our MVSD communities, we know that this has halted community-based recreation, sports and arts activities and hosting public events – ranging from dance recitals to public Remembrance Day events. Access to MVSD public school infrastructure is weaved into the vitality of communities. The collective loss of access on gathering has impacted the collective life of our communities. The easing of restrictions and commitment to safe approaches to manage the pandemic and the virus will translate into renewed vigor for communities.
Community leaders in local government appreciate the need for shifting priorities as we build a collective understanding of the pandemic’s impacts on youth. Re-establishing routines around returning to school safely, is a concern shared by leaders. Jimmy Chartrand, Councillor with Skownan First Nation Council advised that it so important to work with partners in education to participate in conversation and build strategies which support the needs of youth. He reflected that, “Two years of the pandemic has had a huge impact on youth who have not been in school regularly.” The hour-long bus ride for a student having to travel to Winnipegosis Collegiate from the community (or Rorketon School), particularly during the many cold winter days we have experienced this winter, makes the return to in-person learning a welcome but challenging transition. I have experienced a similar experience with motivating my own daughters to attend school, due to their preference for remote learning. This wouldn’t even have been considered an option prior to the pandemic. Remote learning delivery has been a unique rural challenge for Manitoba due to inequities in household internet connectivity access.
These mutual priorities are shared among leadership on both sides of communities and education. Experiencing these challenges with your family, but also as a local leader, stresses the importance of working with stakeholders in education to help build upon partnerships which support youth and their education. Councillor Chartrand shared that we all have an important role to play in prioritizing education and recognizing that “it is the key to the future and dreams.”
MVSD will continue to work with communities and foster relationships with all stakeholders, including municipalities and Indigenous leadership. The dialogue is critical to the strength of rural communities and putting students first in success of their education.