2009-03-26 Board members call it a compromise solution. Elliott Payzant, Chair of the South Shore Regional School Board says the decision has been made to permanently close Riverport and District Elementary School . However, the school will remain open until a new Primary to Grade 9 school is built in the Town of Lunenburg. Payzant says it was a tough decision for the Board members. Along with Riverport, the Board approved permanent closure of four other schools that were placed under review. They include Centre Consolidated, Lunenburg Academy, Lunenburg Junior/Senior High and Milton Centennial.
Release from South Shore Regional School Board....
South Shore Regional School Board Schedules Five Schools for Closure
At a meeting of the Board held Wednesday, March 25th at Hebbville Academy in Hebbville, the South Shore Regional School Board voted to close Riverport and District Elementary School when the new Primary to Grade 9 school slated for the Lunenburg area is ready. The Board also voted to close Milton Centennial School in Queens County when the new capital construction project in the Municipality of Queens provides the opportunity to relocate the students from Milton Centennial.
Last July, the Board voted to close Lunenburg Academy, Lunenburg Junior-Senior High School and Centre consolidated School but had not determined the dates on which the schools would be closed.
At the Wednesday night meeting, the Board voted to close Lunenburg Junior-Senior High School for high school students in June, 2009. The high school students will have the choice of attending either Park View Education Centre or Bridgewater High School in Bridgewater. The junior high students will remain in the current Lunenburg Junior-Senior High School until the new Primary to Grade 9 school planned for the Lunenburg area is ready.
Centre Consolidated School was scheduled for closure, as was the Lunenburg Academy, when the new Lunenburg area school is available for the students.
"The board reviewed all aspects of the issues using the thirteen criteria set out in the Regulations under the Education Act," said Board Chairman Elliott Payzant. "We heard and considered representations from School Advisory Councils, parents, municipal leaders and members of the community. In the end the Board has made its decisions based on the best interests of our students."
The South Shore Regional School Board has set a new Primary to Grade 9 school for Lunenburg area and a new Middle School for the Municipality of Queens as immediate priorities for new construction. The Board is awaiting the approval of the capital projects list by Cabinet and an announcement by the Department of Education regarding these schools.