Markham
August 28, 2008 08:35 PM
Wheels will go round and round one more year for Arts York students
Teresa Latchford
Arts York students from across the region will get on a yellow school bus for at least the next school year.
Earlier this year, York Region District School Board decided to stop busing services for the Unionville High School’s regional arts program.
Previously, students who lived outside the school’s catchment area had to take a bus.
The decision caused about 200 parents and even more students to take action since the group felt the decision was hasty and lacked public consultation.
Students held a silent protest at school to demonstrate the lack of voice they had in the decision.
Parents and students protested outside board offices and wrote letters to school trustees without results.
Left frustrated and needing more answers, the group and local lawyer Jacques Amelard applied for a special judicial review to be heard by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to plead their case of why the reversal of the decision is crucial to the survival of the arts program, parent Dave Ruuskanen said.
More than 25 witnesses testified the board was removing an essential service and how the decision would negatively impact the arts program.
The program has produced such stars as Hayden Christensen, who played Anakin Skywalker in the latest installments of the Star Wars films and Adam Brazier, a performer with Mamma Mia.
The case of the Arts York parents and students was scheduled to be heard today in Newmarket court, but a settlement was reached between the group and the board.
“In light of a costly and timely court proceeding, the school board has decided to continue the busing services for the 2008/2009 school year,” board spokesperson Ross Virgo said.
He would not confirm if busing services would continue after 2009.
However, Mr. Ruuskanen is confident a resolution will be reached as the group of parents and students work with the board to look more closely at the impact this decision will have on the regional arts program and the students attending the school.
It is a process that was too short the first time around, he said.
“We are happy with the way things went and with the decision to extend the services,” he said.
“But this issue is still an ongoing discussion.”
The cancellation of the transportation services to the Arts York program was a decision made to equalize busing services across the region.