As a student campaign to save Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute gears up, city council is stepping into the fray.
Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy has called a special council meeting for this Wednesday evening to discuss a decision to dramatically change the school landscape in the city.
The school accommodation plans were approved by the Bluewater district School Board last week.
Students of Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute have decided to fight back against the decision.
The campaign to save OSCVI began on the weekend, and already has 967 signatures.
The organizers says the board plans on putting more than a million dollars into converting the 16 year old secondary school into an elementary school, while crowding OSCVI students at the aging West Hill Secondary School, requiring the use of portables for the overflow.
OSCVI has a 160 year history, with some illustrious alumni such as Billy Bishop, Agnes Macphail, and Norman Bethune.
The students set up a booth at the Owen Sound Farmer's market to explain their position and gather signatures.
The petition requests a one year delay, claiming the idea to close OSCVI as a highschool was introduced March 1st. after the public comment period was closed.
The slogan for the SAVE OSCVI campaign is “Falcon spirit and community support”. Student organizer Mitch Hendry was pleased with what he saw this weekend.
"We saw a lot of support for the OSCVI specifically today,” said Hendry.
“But more importantly we saw and took part in a lot of discussion about the decision and the process itself. That discussion is something that I haven't seen a lot of until now, and is really why we're here today."
The federal Member of Parliament for Bruce Grey Owen Sound met Monday with members of the student council at Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute.
The students shared their concerns with Larry Miller about the recent decision by the Bluewater District School Board to move students at OSCVI to West Hill Secondary School this fall.
Miller stated that he shared their concerns that the 'best interests' of all students are not being taken into consideration. Miller went on to say that West Hill is a fantastic school, but that is not the issue.
He wished the OSCVI student council, and all those concerned with this decision, the very best in their fight to keep their school.
MP Larry Miller meets with OSCVI student council on Monday, April 25, 2016 (photo submitted)
MP Larry Miller meets with OSCVI student council on Monday, April 25, 2016 (photo submitted)
