An emotional rally was held Saturday for the New Dawn School.
“Without this [school], I would not be here today,” said former student Alexia Sutherland. “I can tell you that 100% I would not be here talking to you today.”
The New Dawn School gives at-risk students a second chance at success.
After hearing about proposed cuts to enrollment, students, their parents and teachers organized a rally to show their support for the program. Many of them openly wept as they talked about the impact of New Dawn.
“This is my family away from home,” said one student.
At a Waterloo Region District School Board meeting on Wednesday, several trustees raised concerns about New Dawn’s enrollment, which has shrunk from 20 to 12 students. Board officials say they’re looking for alternate sources of funding.
“We’re just working through a process with some of our agency partners to make sure that we have the programs positioned so that they’re going to be able to serve the students that we have,” said Mary Lou Mackie, Superintendent of Education.
Teacher Mike Campbell says the school isn’t operating at capacity because there’s a backlog in the system. “It could be full all the time, with 60 kids if we had to.”
The rally is their last attempt to try and change the board’s decision to cut enrollment.
“Give us a chance to find creative ways to save this program,” said Campbell. “Because it’s worth saving.”
A meeting to discuss proposed enrollment cuts is scheduled at New Dawn on Monday. The school board will give the budget final approval later that evening.
