Ray Vincent, Chair of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board and Trustee Roberte Cunningham (left), receive a copy of the Children First Charter from City of Greater Sudbury Deputy Mayor, Louise Portelance. The Children First Charter was created by Mayor Jim Gordon and Council’s Children First Roundtable, a volunteer taskforce of parents, service providers and community leaders established in 2000. Endorsed by City Council on June 26, 2002 the Charter is now being officially launched in the community. The Charter creates a community vision recognizing the special needs of children and is intended to guide decision-makers, policy makers, schools and other organizations serving children and their families as well as businesses. Large scale copies of the Charter were presented to representatives of Greater Sudbury school boards to be circulated among the schools.

Trustees for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board voted four to one in favour of consolidating Our Lady of Fatima School in Naughton with St. James School in Lively, effective September 2004, at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Board. This decision came on the heels of a presentation from representatives of Our Lady of Fatima School Council who asked the Board to reconsider its decision to close the school. Trustees listened intently to the thirty minute presentation by Leah Lepage and Kerrie St. Jean who were the spokespersons for Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School council, and for the parents and stakeholders who were present at the meeting. However, after reviewing the information the Trustees voted four to one in favour of consolidation. The initial vote on December 17, 2002 placed the Trustees in a three to two decision to consolidate the school. Trustee Jody Cameron abstained from voting in both cases citing conflict of interest.

Ray Vincent, Chair of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, stated that the decision to close Our Lady of Fatima School and consolidate it with the newer St. James school was the only viable solution given the economic reality of the situation. “We recognize that there is regret in the hearts of parents and staff over the closing of a school. The entire Walden community however, can take pride in the expansion of St. James Catholic school which will offer Junior Kindergarten to grade eight in Regular French Immersion and Native Studies programs under one roof in a newly enhanced learning environment,” stated Vincent.