HRSB saves seven schools from chopping block, five still under axe

Posted Mar 31, 2011 05:28:19 AM.

This article is more than 5 years old.

Seven schools in Metro have been spared the chopping block while five others are still threatened by a closure review process.

The Halifax Regional School Board whittled down its list of 12 schools for possible closure during a six-hour-long meeting Wednesday night.

Board member Steve Brine (Eastern Shore-Musquodoboit Valley, Preston-Lawrencetown-Chezzetcook) made a passionate plea to save rural schools.

“If the decision eventually is to close rural schools these communities are not going to be able to attract young families,” said Brine. “When they see the closest school is 20 to 40 kilometers away, they may actually start losing the young families they have.”

Board Chair Irvine Carvery spoke in favour of keeping St. Joseph’s Alexander MacKay open, even as the board looks for a suitable site for a school it wishes to build in or about the same area.

“I’m sure if we find a suitable location for the new Joe Howe school, one that bridges communities, not digs trenches between communities, but one that builds bridges, than people will come to that school quite willingly,” said the chair, of the North End.

Board member Sheryl Blumenthal-Harrison (Purcell’s Cove-Armdale, Spryfield-Herring Cove, Timberlea-Prospect) spoke to save Sambro Elementary saying if the school is closed its students will be sent to William King, a school which is coming up for review in future, as outlined in the board’s capital plan.

Under the Ministerial Education Act Regulations, the board was obligated to identify schools it plans to review for closure no later than April 1, with a final decision to be made no later than March 31, the following year.

Board member Gin Yee made the motion to further review Prince Arthur and South Woodside schools for closure.

“As the SAC (school advisory council) chair presented, she wants the school to close. The building is in ill repair. It needs to close,” Yee told the board about Prince Arthur, before describing South Woodside as being in the centre of an industrial area.

The following schools will not be reviewed for closure: