Dear Mr. Bailey, I am a parent of a child with disabilities who lives in Sarnia. I am writing to you not only from a place of deep personal experience, but also from a place of concern for the future of our public education system, particularly for children who have additional needs in the classroom. […]
Dear Mr. Bailey,
I am a parent of a child with disabilities who lives in Sarnia. I am writing to you not only from a place of deep personal experience, but also from a place of concern for the future of our public education system, particularly for children who have additional needs in the classroom.
Prior to starting JK my child was in speech therapy, was almost at the top of the wait list to receive occupational therapy and was in therapies to help with his behaviour problems. He was thriving under the eye of St. Clair Child and Youth and the Pathways team. If only every county had these services.
When we started school the wait lists started over meaning he went the entire year without his therapies. We struggled to get him any classroom support. My child does best when he's able to take breaks through the day from the overcrowded classroom.
The school has a sensory room, but no staff so it sits unused. They have a resource room, but no staff so it sits unused. This meant he was either sitting in the office to take breaks- taking valuable time from the Administrative staff to teach/ entertain/ regulate him. Or he was not able to take a break and this resulted in meltdowns that have caused injury and resulted in him being sent home without access to the learning environment at all.
He is not a bad kid or a violent kid, especially when the supports he needs are in place, but without the support he needs, in a classroom of 35 with other children with varying need levels he is not able to regulate himself. This isn't fair to him or the staff or the other children.
When navigating the struggles I've detailed above I've relied on the School Board and trustees to help me through the process. They worked tirelessly to get him access to whatever services they could. They were our advocates. They helped me file appropriate applications, they heard me and made us feel seen. How will we have our voices heard, who will advocate for these kids
if you remove our elected officials?
Navigating the school system with a disabled child is not just about academics; it’s about access, inclusion, and dignity. School trustees and school boards have always been instrumental in advocating for these values, for us and many other families. They are the bridge between families and policy, ensuring that the unique needs of students, especially those with disabilities, are not lost in bureaucracy or budget spreadsheets.
The suggestion to eliminate school boards trustees and possibly boards, in favour of centralized decision-making is deeply troubling. Trustees are elected by the community and are accountable to it. They understand the local context, the challenges families face, and the nuances of each school’s environment. Removing them would silence the voices of parents like me who depend on these representatives to fight for accessible classrooms, specialized support staff, and inclusive programming.
The real issue is not governance – it's funding. Our schools are stretched thin. Educational assistants are overworked, resources for special education are limited, and many families are left to advocate alone.
This school year my child will have speech and occupational therapy once a week this year. Next year? He will miss out on these once again because the therapist's workload means they can only see him every other year. Removing trustees won't solve this. More funds for therapies, support staff etc is the only solution that won't hurt our children.
Proper funding is the solution. Funding that has been cut year over year. Investing in our schools means investing in our children’s futures, especially those who need additional support to thrive.
I urge you to protect the integrity of our public education system by defending the role of trustees and boards, and by advocating for increased funding for all students and increased targeted funding for children with additional needs. Decisions should be science backed and the government should support teacher led initiatives to make our schools equitable and safe. Our children deserve more than efficiency, they deserve compassion, representation, and opportunity.
Thank you for your time. I would welcome the opportunity to speak further about this issue and share more of my family’s experience.
Sincerely,
Anna Gollen
