The right process leads to the right decision

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/02/2025 (290 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It is easy to complain when any level of government doesn’t work properly, or when it makes a decision that ignores the needs of a particular group of constituents. It is just as easy, however, to acknowledge when the decision-making process works as it is intended to. This is one of those occasions.

The Brandon School Division Board of Trustees has approved the expansion of Riverview School to include Grades 7 and 8, with the admission of the Grade 7 students beginning immediately, as they will begin attending in September 2025. Grade 8 students will be added to the school in September of 2026.

At a time when so much attention and investment is devoted to newer and higher-income neighbourhoods in the city, it is heartening to see a decision that benefits a school and neighbourhood that is just as deserving of attention – and to also see the process that led to the decision unfold in such a sensible manner.

In October of last year, we reported that the Riverview School Parent Council was calling for the inclusion of Grades 7 and 8 at the east-end school, citing numerous benefits for students, parents and the neighbourhood where the school is located.

Riverview is one of the few elementary schools in Brandon without Grades 7 and 8, which means that students in the area are forced to move to King George School — which is a significant distance away from Riverview — for their final two years of their education prior to high school.

The Riverview parent council argued that keeping students at Riverview for kindergarten through Grade 8 would be less stressful for students and would help build a stronger sense of community, leadership and belonging. They also noted that King George School does not offer a lunch program, which would make it difficult for students who live far from the school to go home for lunch and come back.

Two months later, we reported that the school board was considering the proposal, and was seeking community input via an online survey. The board said that the feedback would play a critical role in understanding the potential impacts and benefits of the expansion.

Two months after that, following 311 responses to the survey and broad consultation with parents and staff, it was obvious to the board that there is broad community support for the expansion, with continuity, travel time and school community all being key priorities for those who responded.

It was also clear to the board that adding the two grades to Riverview could be accomplished without the need for expensive renovations and/or investments. The new classes will use classrooms in the school that are currently empty, and most if not all of the chairs, tables and other necessary furniture will come from existing resources in other schools.

Beyond that, the staffing allocation will follow the enrolment numbers and budget considerations. Existing staffing levels will be adjusted, with teachers being reassigned based on student enrolment figures. That means that some teaching staff from King George School will likely be reassigned to Riverview.

When was the last time you saw anything of a significant nature that was carried out by any level of government at little to no additional cost to taxpayers?

If there was a case study relating to how a well-organized community group with a cogent plan can influence the policies and decisions of elected officials — and how those officials should respond to such a plan — this would be it. In a matter of months, the idea of adding Grades 7 and 8 to Riverview School has moved from idea to consultation to study to approval to implementation. The children and families in the surrounding neighbourhood will be the beneficiaries of that process and decision.

At a time when we see so much well-founded cynicism relating to our government bodies, elected officials and the political process, this is a rare good news story that deserves to be acknowledged. Let’s hope it is the beginning of a trend.