Minister: New Germany Residents Should Take Time To Heal

The province's education minister says New Germany residents should take time to heal after a stressful few days. The community endured an emotional roller-coaster this week after learning a controversial teacher was close to returning to the classroom. The local school board voted unanimously Wednesday night to accept a settlement with Peter Speight that includes he resign and surrender his teaching license. Ramona Jennex says people can take comfort he'll never teach in this province.



Under the arrangement, Speight will receive compensation over and above the $150,000 he's owed in back pay. Jennex would not reveal the financial details of the settlement, but confirmed the school board will not be adversely affected.

Lucky Driver Avoids Serious Injuries In 103 Accident

RCMP officers say the female driver of a small car that went out of control earlier this morning on the Gold River Bridge on Highway-103 is lucky to have escaped serious injury.  They say the vehicle, heading east, apparently encountered a sheet of black ice on the bridge, spun out of control, missed colliding with other traffic and rammed a guardrail. The driver was apparently shaken-up by the mishap and paramedics took her to hospital in Lunenburg to be checked out. The Bridgewater-bound lane of the 103 was closed between exits 9 and 10 for more than an hour as the scene was cleared and DOT applied salt to the bridge deck.

New Germany Residents React To Teacher Settlement

A small group of residents from New Germany erupted in jubilation after the South Shore Regional School Board came to a settlement with a former teacher. The board voted unanimously Wednesday night to accept a settlement with Peter Speight that includes he resign immediately and surrender his teaching license. Parent Myra Jodrey has a son in grade six at New Germany Elementary and was overwhelmed with the outcome.



President of New Germany Elementary's Home and School Association, Jennifer Hayward, says the decision will come as a relief to the community.



Superintendent Nancy Pynch-Worthylake says they have to protect the best interests of students and the community.



She says the financial terms of the settlement are confidential but confirmed Speight will be paid on top of the $150,000 already owed in back pay. The agreement was announced after the school board moved in-camera for nearly an hour to consult with their lawyer. In the video below, school board members unanimously vote in favour of a settlement and lawyer John MacPherson also talks about the issue of confidentiality in dealing with the matter.