Save Louise Dean School

Update - December 2nd, 2022

Almost 5,000 Alberta parents signed our petition to save Louise Dean, and hundreds of you participated in consultations and sent feedback directly to the Calgary Board of Education trustees.

But, over the course of the trustee meeting, it became clear that the board had already made their decision long before they heard from any of us.

They were going to follow the advice of Administration.

They were going to do it without mentioning the stabbing at Jack James High School at any point in the five-hour meeting.

They were going to express outrage that anyone would think there was violence in a school that just saw one of its students stabbed.

They were going to do it by cutting off speakers from the public after exactly three minutes, while voting to extend the time limits for themselves.

They were going to summarize hundreds of pieces of feedback in three minutes to diminish their influence.

They were going to compare people who don’t think the neighbourhood is a good fit for this program to racists.

For their part, Administration made it clear they were asked to consider which schools had enough space, where transportation would be most convenient, where expanded services and educational opportunities are possible, and, of course, costs.

Safety did not appear to factor in.

So, the Calgary Board of Education trustees voted 6-1 to move the Louise Dean Centre, a school program exclusively for pregnant teens and young mothers, to Jack James High School in Forest Lawn.

Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised, though?

Louise Dean has been successful, while - let’s be honest - the CBE doesn’t exactly have a pulse on what makes schools successful.

If they did, they’d clearly be trying to replicate the methods used at LDC and other innovative schools, not shut them down.

Alberta students need more innovation in schools, not less.

Educators are constantly telling us that learning is not one-size-fits-all. But, when they have a chance to prove that point, and put their (our!) money where their mouth is, they failed.

This looks increasingly absurd as independent schools and charter schools innovate and serve such vulnerable students even without access to the bulging capital reserves of the Calgary Board of Education.

Similarly, learning pods across the province have popped up to provide the ultimate in small-scale innovation during the pandemic, with no government funding whatsoever.

Speaking of reserves, not only was our claim that the CBE had $40 million in capital reserves confirmed at this meeting, that number was updated to $49.88 million.

We’ve said it from the beginning: If the Calgary Board of Education, with all of its funding, can't manage to keep innovating, then the money should follow the student to someone that can.

That's why we are re-launching our Save Louise Dean petition and directing it to Education Minister Adriana LaGrange.

We’re calling on her to invite another education authority to run the Louise Dean Centre program and receive its funding.

If you agree, please sign this petition to Save Louise Dean School.

Save Louise Dean School

Earlier this week, it was revealed that the Calgary Board of Education is planning to close the Louise Dean Centre, a school program for pregnant teens and young mothers, located in northwest Calgary.

For those who aren't familiar with the Centre, it currently has 47 students and has proven particularly successful, offering a unique educational environment that includes on-site child care, life skills programs, and other critical supports needed to help pregnant teenagers and young mothers graduate.

The CBE says that this closure is happening because of declining enrollment and that the program will continue as part of the Jack James High School in Forest Lawn in southeast Calgary.

But that's no consolation for the current students, and it remains to be seen whether the program remains successful once integrated with an existing school.

Programs like Louise Dean have been found to be successful in many school divisions, including Calgary's, precisely because of the customized experience they can offer, as well as the benefits from reduced bullying and harassment thanks to their separate nature.

Now, it certainly is true that enrollment numbers are dropping - thanks primarily to reduced rates of teen pregnancy in Alberta in recent years - but the rest of the CBE's arguments don't stack up.

Yes, Louise Dean is below Alberta Education’s 85% "utilization threshold" for enrollments, but many other schools are being even less utilized.

The Calgary Board of Education alone has 46 schools below a 70% utilization rate, so why is this one unique and successful school being targeted?

Or, perhaps the bigger question... why are those in charge of our kids' education more interested in "utilization rates" than in education outcomes?

Educators are constantly telling us that learning is not one-size-fits-all.

But, when they have a chance to prove that point, and put their (our!) money where their mouth is, they'd rather close schools offering something different.

We need more innovation in schools, not less.

Louise Dean must stay open.

This critically important program must not be relocated or shuttered.

We shouldn't make young women choose between their child and their education.

If the CBE isn't up to that job, then that's just even more evidence that our current school funding system is in dire need of reform, in favour of a system where funding follows the student to whatever school can best meet their needs.

If you agree, please sign this petition to Save Louise Dean School.