Halifax Regional School Board will review 17 schools

The Halifax Regional School Board voted in favour of reviewing 17 schools in the Cole Harbour High District and the Auburn Drive High family Wednesday night.

The vote was a long time coming, considering the matter had been deferred three times.

More time needed

Two of the schools under review are high schools, three are junior highs, one is a P-9 and 11 are elementary schools.

Nancy Jakeman, the school board member for Cole Harbour-Dartmouth East, as well as a number of other board members noted that 17 is a lot of schools to review — especially considering a decision by the board would need to be made some time in late May.

"I'm hoping that the [education] minister will allow us to extend the time frame so that we can really engage the community members, the parents, the kids and be able to do this in a positive way," said Jakeman.

The schools up for review in the province's largest school board include:

• Cole Harbour District High
• Ross Road School
• Sir Robert Borden Junior High
• Atlantic View Elementary
• Colonel John Stuart Elementary
• George Bissett Elementary
• Nelson Whynder Elementary
• Robert Kemp Turner Elementary
• Auburn Drive High
• Astral Drive Junior High
• Graham Creighton Junior High
• Astral Drive Elementary
• Caldwell Road Elementary
• Colby Village Elementary
• Humber Park Elementary
• Joseph Giles Elementary
• Bell Park Academic Centre

Sheryl Blumenthal-Harrison, board member for Clayton Park West-Spryfield, was the only board member who voted against the review.

"I just think more time than nine months with 17 schools needs to be looked at," said Blumenthal-Harrison, "It was a rough time six months with five schools so I can't see it."

Eastern Passage impact

Sonny Wicks, who is in charge of security at Cole Harbour High, attended the packed meeting. He said he isn't happy the review process is moving forward.

A new high school will be built in Eastern Passage and once it's open, Cole Harbour High will lose half of its students.

"Our school, Auburn also, they're going to be half full. All of these schools are going to be half full. It doesn't make any sense. It's more of a political thing," said Wicks. 

Jakeman, a graduate of Cole Harbour District High, said the board doesn't have any "hidden agendas" to close any schools.

"I would like to see what we can do with [Cole Harbour District High] and Auburn as well. Maybe that's a grade reconfiguration, maybe that does mean boundary changes," said Jakeman.

The first public meeting on the school review is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 21.