By Joel van der Veen
May 31, 2010

DAVIDSON - News of a potential merger between Carlton Trail Regional College and St. Peter's College has provoked strong reactions from several organizations that say it would negatively impact educational services in the area.

The Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union issued a press release on May 10, warning of "reduced access and higher costs for rural families" if the merger went ahead.

"We believe that the plan is to centralize program delivery [in] Muenster," union president Bob Bymoen stated. "There has been virtually no public discussion about this merger."

Ten days later, the Town of Watrous issued a release to publicize their concerns, accusing school administrators of withholding information and predicting the decline of regional education.

Watrous is home to one of Carlton Trail's five branches. The others are located in Davidson, Humboldt, Southey and Wynyard. Each office serves its home community as well as surrounding towns and villages. St. Peter's College is located in Muenster, 120 kilometres east of Saskatoon.

"We see no reason to be optimistic that regional services will continue," stated Watrous spokesperson and councillor Ralph Eliasson. "We see too many uncertainties, we see too much discomfort for our local people, we have too many questions about the process."

But CTRC CEO Glen Kobussen says that the school's branches, including the Davidson office, will continue to determine their course offering based on demand.

"As long as there's demand," he says, "there's always going to be programming throughout this region."

Kobussen, who also serves as president of St. Peter's College, travelled to Davidson on May 18 to meet with local staff, management and a union representative.

The group discussed the school budget, staffing levels, program ideas and market research.

Around 200 students have enrolled at CTRC in Davidson so far this school year, which ends in June. Right now the branch offers a course on the Simply Accounting computer software and a session on Personal Care, one of the modules of the Continuing Care Assistant program. Several on-demand courses are also available.

"We're doing a fairly elaborate market research piece," says Kobussen. This has included consultations with businesses, communities, stakeholders and chambers of commerce. Discussion of the merger has continued for nearly two years.

Davidson mayor Mary Jane Morrison says she has spoken with Kobussen and is confident that the town will retain its college facility.

"I'm aware of what's in the process," she says. "We're hoping that this will work out for our area (so) our learners are served."

Kobussen says that the provincial government is also doing its own independent consultation on the matter, although he stresses that plans for the potential merger did not originate with them.

"The idea of the merger was driven by the two institutions," he says.

The merger would provide a "barrage" of benefits to both schools, he adds. These would include what Kobussen calls a "seamless transition" between different programs, allowing students to continue with the same advisors and counsellors.

CTRC students would have access to expanded resources at St. Peter's, including fitness and library facilities. Also, St. Peter's, as a registered charity, can accept donations, while CTRC cannot. A merger would allow both schools to benefit from donations.

Kobussen says he recognizes the concerns of small-town residents. Ensuring the continuation of services will remain a "balancing act," he says.

"We need to make sure that we're consistent throughout the region and not just in those towns that have offices," he said.

Morrison says she read the press release from Watrous and, despite her positive outlook on the situation, says she can understand people's fear of possible branch closings.

But she believes the market research, when completed, will reveal a continued need and demand for post-secondary education in Davidson, though "it might not look the same, or the staffing may change."

"We're trying to be cooperative so far as supplying information," says Morrison. "I hope we've made it clear to them that we're here to be of some help."

Of the school administrators, she says, "I think they're trying to be pure and transparent."

The Davidson branch opened in a former bakery on Washington Street in 1974. It was part of Coteau Range Community College, headquartered in Moose Jaw, until the college system was reorganized in 1987.

The leaderonline is a division of The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan, Canada.