Board saves two metro schools, votes to close three
Posted Mar 29, 2012 05:54:52 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
After more than a year of research and public consultations, the Halifax Regional School Board has decided the fate of five area schools.
Prince Arthur Jr. High in Dartmouth will close as soon as a new school is built.
Sackville Central and Gertrude Parker will close in 2014, provided a boundary review deems it appropriate.
South Woodside Elementary in Dartmouth and Central Spryfield in Halifax were spared the chopping block.
Those decisions brought cheers from more than 200 people who packed the auditorium at Dartmouth High School Wednesday evening to hear the debate.
“I’m very, very, very happy,” said Danielle, a mother of three children attending South Woodside.
Chris Primo was brought to tears talking about Central Spryfield School staying open.
“My wife has been trying really hard at keeping this school open,” Primo told News 95.7. “It is a community school. I love that school, the teachers love that school. I’m very excited.”
Although most parents supported the decision to close Prince Arthur, Halifax Regional Councillor Gloria McCluskey wasn’t happy.
“That’s a shame. I don’t agree with it,” said McCluskey following the meeting.
Kimberly Pride of Sackville says she’s happy to hear the closure of the two Sackville schools has been put off until after the boundary review.
“We’re really happy that it gives us two years’ grace,” said Pride. “That will help us prepare our parents, our students will be older and much easier to absorb into other schools.”
The board is looking for $10 million in savings to cover cuts to provincial funding.
