Details finalized for Rural Education conference

CORNWALL – The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry released more details about its upcoming rural education symposium that is scheduled for February 3.nnThe symposium builds on the rural education report commissioned by SDG Counties and the recommendations adopted by Counties Council in November 2021.nnSDG, and two other groups – Rural Schools Alliance, and the Thames Valley District School Board – will each present findings and recommendations from their respective groups on the challenges for rural education and potential solutions in Ontario.nnThe RSA presentation will focus on the impact of schools in small Ontario communities. Thames Valley recently finished a public consultation in its school board area on funding, programming, decision-making, and internet access. Following the three presentations, educator and consultant Paul Bennett will deliver a keynote address.nnBennett, director of the Schoolhouse Institute and adjunct professor of education at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, has written and advocated extensively on education reform in Canada.nnThe online-based conference will close with a roundtable discussion moderated by Erik Lockhart from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University.nn“We encourage everyone interested in education for our children to take this opportunity to find out more and advocate for the changes necessary to ensure that Ontario’s educational system is equitable for all students,” said Tim Simpson, chief administrative officer for SDG Counties.nnThe rural education symposium is free to attend, and can also be viewed online via the Counties’ Youtube channel.nnNo information was available on how the public can participate in the roundtable or question and answer session.