School distrcit settles on two schools for closure

In the end, the school closure debate would resemble what it was at the start of the year. With the originally proposed schools once again the ones on the chopping block, destined not to be joined by any other schools for the next few years at any rate.

While the last few weeks had seen the introduction of the potential closures of Westview and Port Edward Elementary Schools as a talking point, Tuesday's School District 52 Meeting seemed to move them off of the closure list.

The Northern View posted a story on Tuesday night, outlining the deliberations of the School Board as they met to decide the fate of local schools on the closure list.

And as things would finally shake out, it will be Seal Cove and Kanata schools that will close their doors on August 31, 2008 with new catchment areas for those students to be drawn up.

The contentious issue of the closure of Westview school, a move recommended by staff a few weeks ago never got off the table, as the motion to close the school in 2009 never received a seconder, a move that will leave the school and its French immersion program intact and remove what was shaping up to be perhaps the most controversial of all the school closure proposals.

Likewise, the surprise announcement last month that Port Edward school was being considered for closure did not gain much traction either, as the Board decided to work with the District of Port Edward to work out a partnership to keep the school open.

A desire that Port Edward council had hoped could be arrived at, fearful that the closure of the school would have serious effects on the potential growth of the town and have a detrimental impact on the existing population.

Board votes to close two schools
By Shaun Thomas

The Northern View

March 11, 2008

There will be two fewer schools operating in Prince Rupert come September as the board of trustees voted to close both Seal Cove and Kanata schools during its March 11 meeting.

Both of the schools will close their doors effective August 31, 2008, while senior staff said they would determine new catchment areas in the coming weeks. While staff had recommended the closure of Westview school in 2009, the motion made by trustee Tina Last found no seconder and died before it made it to the table. Port Edward School was also saved from pending closure as the board instead decided it would seek out a possible partnership with the District of Port Edward to keep the school running.

Trustee Russell Wiens was the lone voice of opposition on both votes, while trustee Brian Johnson abstained, citing the fact that he missed the past few meetings.

Look for full details on this story in the March 19 issue of The Northern View.