Our community has been shaken by a tragic incident involving a student set on fire  at F.E.Madill high school in Wingham. This tragic incident is not the only incident our students have had to face this year, it is the worst. With the overdoses, extreme bullying, student being held at knife point and now the fire,  My heart aches each time I think about my nieces and the rest of the children who attend this school, having to step back into an environment that still carries the haunting reminders of that day.   It's hard enough to return to school for so many of our children because they do not feel safe, and even more so now. The very thought that they, and countless other students, are forced to return to a school that still smells of burning  hair and gas is deeply unsettling. 

This is a plea from a concerned family member,  from a community member who believes in the mental well-being and safety of our children. Our children deserve the utmost priority; their mental health and safety should never be comprimised. It's crucial now more than ever, that they are given the opportunity for a stable and conducive learning environment.

This traumatic event has lingering effects on mental health, especially for young minds.

With the current situation, the students of F.E. Madill high school are placed in a distressful environment that could hinder their educational growth.

Many are not prepared mentally or emotionally to go back to school, and being forced to return to a school that is clearly not ready, is not doing any of our children any good.

Therefore we call upon the F.E. Madill high school administration, and to the AMDSB to offer the option of remote learning for the remainder of the school year.  This is not just a temporary solution, but a necessary adjustment to ensure our children's rights to a safe learning environment.

Offering online learning as an option, not only addresses immediate concerns, but gives students and parents the peace of mind knowing they aren't being forced back into a potentially harmful situation. It is a proactive measure that promotes the emotional and psychological well-being of our students, allowing them to continue thriving academically in a setting where they can feel safe.