Board having second thoughts about school closures

The Eastern School District is revisiting its decision to close elementary schools in Whitbourne and Heart's Delight-Islington.

The school board has announced it will hold a special meeting of its trustees on Monday to deal with two new motions; one to rescind the decisions to close the schools, and a new motion which will lay out a public consultation process to again debate the issue.

In December, trustees voted to close Epiphany Elementary in Heart's Delight-Islington and Whitbourne Elementary at the end of this school year.

But in April, parents at Whitbourne Elementary served notice they would fight the decision in court. In a statement of claim before the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, the parents allege the process that led to the decision to close both schools was flawed, and that they weren't properly consulted.

That challenge was scheduled to be heard in court on May 16.

A spokesperson for the Eastern School District says trustees will speak publicly about the matter after the new motions are put to a vote at Monday's meeting.