Stop school closures until trustees elected, says school councils group

The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of School Councils says the provincial government should put a moratorium on school closures until new school board trustees are elected.

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The English school district is reviewing five schools in different parts of Newfoundland because of declining enrolment. 

Federation president Peter Whittle, however, said it's not acceptable to have unelected, interim trustees decide on whether schools should close.

Last elections in 2009

"If it were my community, or neighborhood school, I would be seeking a court injunction to delay any motion to close any school until elected trustees are in place," said Whittle in a press release.

"You cannot argue that appointed trustees are elected trustees. Under this current system, there is no accountability to the public."

The last school board elections were held in 2009, when the province had four school boards for English schools.

In 2013 those four boards merged into one: the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District.The 15 trustees on the current board were appointed from the old boards, not elected.

Education Minister Dale Kirby has said the Liberals will honour their promise to have school board elections within 12 months, but he has not set a definitive date.

Whittle said Kirby must reflect on his rationale for delaying elections and put a process in place soon.

"If government wants to shut down schools, let them sign the death certificates themselves and offer some accountability for the decisions being made in a vacuum that only they can remedy," he said.

The five schools up for review are: Holy Cross Junior High in St. John's; Whitborne Elementary; Long Island Academy; Pearson Academy in Greenspond; and, Sacred Heart All-Grade in Conche.