Thursday, March 8, 2012

SSRSB: Multiple Options for New Board Size


Judith Sullivan-Corney
Three options are better than one for the South Shore Regional School Board. The board is recommending multiple scenarios to the province's UARB regarding the size of the school board. Judith Sullivan-Corney says they've decided to suggest a six person, seven person and nine person board as options to the Utility and Review Board to decide on. The first option is the six-person board with two at-large representatives for African Nova Scotian and Mik'maq electors. That would give two members for Park View and one for Queens, Forest Heights, New Germany and Bridgewater. Sullivan-Corney says its the option she prefers.

"It met a number of the objectives that I was hoping to meet and I also think it supports the Deloitte Report. So, the six seat option is if we didn't have to concern ourselves with the minimums in the Education Act, I think it would be a really great option."

The province's Education Act says there can not be less than eight board members. Sullivan-Corney says the school board is hoping their recommendation of six or seven can spark a change in legislation. If not, she says they have a nine person option for the UARB to fall back on.