When it comes to supporting St. Mary of the Lake School, the Living Waters Catholic Regional Division is doing a lot, says Carol Lemay, the Superintendent of Schools. Responding to reports that some Catholic parents want to vote St. Mary’s out of the Living Waters division, Lemay said they need more of the facts.
“A matter of this importance can not be decided upon by people in the community unless they have all the information and have heard all sides of the issue,” Lemay told The Leader last week in a telephone interview. “And I don’t think they do.”
Lemay said some of the information presented at the Nov. 29 stakeholders meeting (as reported in ‘Catholic parent group advocates a split from Living Waters’ – Lakeside Leader, Dec. 6) “was clearly not correct or very much out of date.”
The issue of black mould, for example, was in the list of reasons stated for students leaving the school. For starters, Lemay says, it wasn’t black mould, and furthermore, it was dealt with.
As for the charge of inadequate support from the board or divisional administration, not true, Lemay said.
“St. Mary has been well supported by Living Waters over the years,” she said. “And there’s been significant financial support over the past two years.”
For example, the 14 to one pupil to teacher ratio. Most schools don’t go below 18 to one, she said.
The ‘dual-track’ system of French Immersion and English is also well supported, Lemay said. So is technology and professional development.
“We’ve put $140,000 into classroom and library materials and resources to assist teachers, above and beyond the regular budget,” she said. “We put an extra $180,000 into professional development for staff, in order to help address specific needs of that community.” Lemay praised the staff of the school, saying that they have “an excellent plan” for improving achievement.
“The board and central office staff support and applaud staff through finances and expertise,” she said.
One of the complaints heard most often at the stakeholder meeting (to which Lemay said she was not invited) was poor communication with her office. More than one person at the meeting said their calls or e-mails had not been returned. Asked about it, Lemay said, “We try very hard to communicate effectively with people. We want to be in contact with people in the community. However, we do encourage people to follow the proper protocols.”
Those protocols, as related at the Nov. 29 meeting in Slave Lake by Living Waters Board member Camile Joly, are that parents first try to talk to the teacher. If that doesn’t work, the principal is next in line, followed by the superintendent and then the board.
Lemay did not speculate on what might or might not happen with regards to a petition and a plebiscite. But she did promise that Catholic electors in Slave Lake would be hearing more from Living Waters.
“What we will do is (ensure) that people receive good information.

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