Students plead for status quo

Auburn Drive High’s student council called on the school board to scrap its recommendation to consolidate Auburn Drive High and Cole Harbour District High and send some students to a high school in Eastern Passage last night.
“In constructing a new, primarily white high school in Eastern Passage and sending virtually all of the Cole Harbour region’s black students to one consolidated high school, the Halifax regional school board would be neglecting its long-standing commitment to diversity,” said Kevin Morash, student council secretary, at last night’s public submissions meeting for the board’s 10-year facilities plan.
Auburn Drive High opened its doors in 1994 to alleviate overcrowding at Cole Harbour District High and to maintain a diverse school community, following several years of highly publicized, racially divided fights.
Consultants recommended building a high school serving Eastern Passage, Shearwater and Woodside after Eastern Passage residents made a strong plea for it. Board staff recently endorsed the idea.
Morash — who’s in Grade 12, on his school’s diversity team and basketball team co-captain — raised concerns about having to change schools. He said student athletes would lose accessibility to Cole Harbour Place.
“I don’t feel that the students from my community should have to go to an Eastern Passage high school when we already go to a 14-year-old school,” said the Colby Village teen, prompting applause.
Eastern Passage residents have long campaigned for a high school in their growing seaside community.
Last night, mother of two Tracey Mohr made an impassioned plea for a high school in Eastern Passage, saying that students should be able to attend a school in their own community. She said some students miss out on participating in extra-curricular activities because the school isn’t located in their community.
-lindsay.jones@metronews.ca