It has come to the attention of the people in South Algonquin Township that children in Madawaska are not allowed to attend Whitney Public School. This school has a shared building with St. Martin of Tours Catholic school, both of which are in the South Algonquin township. Children of Madawaska only have the option of going to St. Martin of Tours Catholic school in Whitney or Sherwood Public School in Barry's Bay.

Many parents are outraged by this ridiculous regulation, as Whitey Public School is in the same building that St. Martin of Tours is in. Whitney is also closer to Madawaska than Barry's Bay would be for the children to bus to or need parents attend to their children at school. The Whitney Public School is in the South Algonquin Township and is expected to be available for ALL children in the Township of South Algonquin, not only children to a certain area of South Algonquin. 

Parents who have raised concern about this underlying issue are told "there is no transportation for kids from Madawaska too Whitney" but that is not true. The children from Madawaska who attend St. Martin of Tours Catholic School share the same bus as children from Whitney Public School. Of course the cut off line is between Madawaska and Whitney at Paplinskie Road on Highway 60, which is maybe 5 minutes out of town. The school bus that picks up the kids attending St. Martin of Tours has to drive right by Paplinskie road to get to Madawaska, so where does the no bussing come in?

There is also the fact that a lot of parents that use the Kids Kastle Daycare Centre in Whitney, there is an option for children to be picked up and dropped off there before and after school by the bus, but if you are from Madawaska and want to have that ability your child has to attend the Catholic school because if your child attends Sherwood Public School in Barry's Bay, they will not transport your child to the Daycare Center in Whitney.  

Should the people of South Algonquin not have a choice as to where they send their children to school? Why should only a part of the community be allowed to use the Public School but yet the whole community is welcome at the Catholic School, which may I remind you, shares the same building and bussing.

Change this ridiculous regulation for current and future residents with children in Madawaska!