The provincial and federal levels of government are notorious for the practice of going through the motions of holding "public" consultations, but deciding to go ahead with their plans regardless.

Governments frequently send out committees or task forces to gather "input" on various issues, like unjustifiable hikes in natural gas rates for example, but then they go ahead and rubber-stamp their previously-made decision to raise the rates anyway.

The Southeast Cornerstone school board lobbied the government for a $15-million project at the Comprehensive School, and instead got a promise of $10 million in funding - and with funding of their own and from the Southeast Regional College kicked in, that amount will likely be at least $15 million, which is enough to replace the current high school structure and build a new one, and move the Weyburn Junior High in to make it a Gr. 7-12 facility, with the college attached as it is now. And who knows, possibly a performing arts centre could be added as has been sought for many years.

The government funds won't be available until the 2009 provincial budget is brought down next spring, so the school board has nearly a year to develop their plans. In this time, they are planning to consult mainly with the school-community councils, and at some point when the plans are being drawn up, they will then share those with the public.

The question is, will the consultations be real in any way? If the vast majority of parents and the public say that moving the Weyburn Junior High into the Comp is just a bad idea all-around, will they pay any attention, or are their minds already made up?

The fact is, the board could take $2-3 million to fix the Comp, another $1-2 million to fix (or replace) Haig, and not even touch that $10 million fund from the government. Or, taking the $10 million, they could easily accomplish both of these goals without jeopardizing a middle-years school that has been recognized at a national level for the great work they are doing there.

Moving the junior into the Comp will destroy all of that good work, and the leadership opportunities Grade 9 students now have will be forever lost, as they would then be the "rookies" of the high school and not able to have a leadership role as they can now.

The whole idea of moving the WJH needs to be seriously reconsidered; replacing Haig is a far more practical way to go (along with doing the repairs needed at the Comp), using the same large plot of land the school is currently located on, rather than disrupting an education system that has worked very well in Weyburn for many years.

The public would be well-served to give input to the board, and to insist that their views be respected and not ignored in this consultation process. - Greg Nikkel