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Vol. 15, No. 42, Wednesday, September 16, 2020 www.LamontLeader.com
Save Andrew School committee ready to appear before council BY JANA SEMENIUK The Andrew Action Committee, a group that has come together to ensure Andrew School remains open in the village, has uncovered vital information as a result of their recent online survey that they intend to bring to the local council in hopes of achieving its support. "We have over 170 survey responses along with multiple one-on-one conversations so we believe we are well plugged into public sentiment at this point,” said committee chairperson Jodie Calfat. The committee was formed in response to two major closures of programming at Andrew School over the past year by Elk Island Public Schools. Once serving kindergarten to grade 12, Andrew School was reduced to serving kindergarten to grade six after first losing their high school program
in 2019, then their junior high program in 2020. “I fear Andrew school has the same future as Willingdon School (which closed in 1992) and it’s heartbreaking,” said Andrew resident and parent Janell Yaremie during an interview in May. “I am scared to think of what will happen in two to five years.” The committee has been meeting since mid-July to find a way to ensure the remaining elementary school program remains open. Part of its strategy included acquiring information from residents by way of an online survey to gauge its priority levels with regards to
schooling as well as where it felt changes could be made. Calfat indicated that results from the survey left no doubt about what needs to happen. “Prominent amongst these concerns was that the Village was not taking any concrete steps to stem its decline which was having an adverse affect on the school’s enrollment numbers,” she said. Calfat added that the committee is taking the information acquired from the survey to the upcoming village council meeting on Sept. 23 to attain its support.
“For our plans to come to fruition, we need a strong and stable community. That’s why this meeting with council on September 23rd is so important. We need them to work with us and we need plans that support each other,” she said. Calfat stated that community support is vital to the goal of keeping Andrew School open. “We need the community to come out and drive home the messages they have equipped us with. This is probably a tipping point for Andrew. If we don’t make progress at this meeting, it’s going to be very hard for the school to survive long term,” she said. The Village of Andrew council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the multipurpose room at the village office on Sept. 23. The public is welcome to attend.
Long time residents want Pharmacist concerned for Andrew School to survive town’s future if school closes BY JANA SEMENIUK Long time village of Andrew residents Marlene and Harry Bidniak feel heartbroken at the thought of the village’s school possibly being permanently closed.
“I would hate to see it go. I’ve had 50 years with that school,” said Harry tapping his heart. “I’ve spent 12 years as a student and 32 years as a teacher here.” The Bidniaks have been proud residents of Andrew since 1968 and not only raised their two children here, but also attended Andrew School themselves as children. The Bidniaks are both staunch supporters of keeping Andrew School open in light of the closures over the past year of the high school program and the junior high program which left only the elementary school program.
Long time residents of Andrew, Harry and Marlene Bidniak.
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BY JANA SEMENIUK Andrew’s only pharmacist, Asif Majeed, has serious concerns for the future of the village of Andrew in light of a possible permanent closure of Andrew School. “I am very concerned with the school closing. That is the major factor with moving people here,” he said. “To maintain the population of the community we have to maintain the young families. It’s very important because the seniors have lived their lives and are enjoying their retirement. But what about the coming generation?” Majeed first began working as a pharmacist at Andrew Pharmacy Asif Majeed, of Andrew.
soon after it opened in 2016. “When the owners decided to sell in 2017, I decided to buy it,” he said. “I was already working here and knew the people.” Continued on Page 2
pharmacy owner/operator in the village