THUNDER BAY – Kids at one local school are no longer allowed to stay and play on the playground past the last bell, unless they're enrolled in after-school daycare.
The recent policy change was made barring the public, including students once they've finished class, from the École Gron Morgan property while the daycare program is running, and some parents are not supportive.
A letter was sent to parents through an online parent communication tool, stating that school grounds will remain in use for childcare purposes only until 5:30 p.m. daily.
The school board says the change is needed to meet its safety and supervision obligations.
For parents like Jennifer Dagsvik, it was a shock to see the new policy.
Dagsvik moved back to Thunder Bay in 2015 and her daughter started at the school the following year.
“One of the best things at the school was that we had this opportunity to hang out and play in the yard.
“It just became part of our routine. We live in the neighbourhood. I had two little twins at the time, and I would go after school to pick up my daughter, hang out with the twins, meet lots of friends. That continued on for years,” she said.
Dagsvick now has four kids that attended Gron Mogan, three are still there.
“This year, we expected it would be the same.
“I don't really hang out at the school anymore after school with my kids because they're older, but we expected it would be the same. Apparently, that changed,” she said.
Dagsvick voiced a concern in an interview with Newswatch about information she said was contradictory in the note.
“I think the thing that really caught a lot of people's eyeline especially, was that Superintendent Harris says that it's important to recognize that school property is not public property, and that's actually contrary to the board's own policies.
“The board has policies that say, for example, The board recognizes that school buildings are public buildings and an integral part of the community, and that as such they should be available for public use to improve the quality of life for everyone.”
It was a place for children to gather after school, she said.
“To lose a public space where children can be, is just heartbreaking. You really feel it as a member of the community who loses that space — to be told you can't go there anymore,” she said.
The hope in Dagsvick’s eyes is that the school board will reverse the decision.
“There is a group of us who are organizing to take steps to make that request. We also hope, I think that maybe a bit of a rift has emerged here, and I think we need to do a bit of healing as a school community and come back together and figure out how we can use this space in a way that works for everybody.”
Heather Harris, superintendent of education at the Lakehead Public School Board, said the reason for the change is to address safety and supervision challenges.
“I won't go into any sort of specific incidents, but that's always our top priority is making sure that our students and staff are safe and that we are able to provide adequate supervision at all times,” she said.
Harris said it is a school-specific issue.
“It's something we're intending to revisit as well, with Gron Morgan in the fall, just to make sure that what we have in place meets the needs of everyone.
“It's not uncommon, I think, for schools and school communities to work out appropriate use of school facilities and I think it's something that we can work out in a positive way that ensures we're meeting our obligations for safety and supervision and also addressing the needs of the community.”
Harris said she is proud of the community at Gron Morgan.
“They are really close-knit, really dynamic school community,” she said.
