Big Tancook Elementary School to Remain Open

A victory for the residents of Big Tancook who will get to keep their school. The South Shore Regional School Board voted unanimously last night to conclude the school review process and keep Big Tancook Elementary School open. The Board also voted not to conduct a further review until 2020, or unless enrolment drops below 3 students. One option would have seen the students taking the ferry to Chester, but even Dr. Jim Gunn who authored the consultants report which initiated the formal review process was against having the younger children having to leave the island to attend school.
Hillary Dionne the Chair of the school's advisory council was overwhelmed with emotion when she heard the Board's decision. Her six year old daughter and nine year old son are among the five students currently attending Big Tancook Elementary.