Louisbourg group to pitch hub to save its school
George D. Lewis school on the closures list for Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board
Parents in Louisbourg who are trying to keep their P-8 school off the closures list will make a pitch to the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board this week to create a hub school.
The idea would be to renovate George D. Lewis school, making it appealing to private interests looking for rental space while making the building financially viable.
The school is one of 17 slated for closure, although it's not one of the handful that will be closed at the end of this school year.
Brett Hanham, vice-chair of the Hub School Society, said the group is confident its plan will work.
"Staff space here, now becomes separate office space with a separate entrance on the side," he said.
Paying customers
Hanham said the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, the International Centre for English Academic Preparation, Cape Breton University and Parks Canada have all expressed an interest in leasing space at a reconfigured school.
He said the idea of a summer youth hostel has been floated, as well as community cooking and computer classes. Hanham said the group is also considering a daycare idea.
The deadline for the idea to be presented to the school board is Wednesday.
Independent review planned
School superintendent Beth MacIsaac said the board will hire a consultant to conduct an independent review of the plan.
MacIsaac said it's not possible to say how long the review will take or when a final decision might be made.
Brett Hanham said because of the review the board has not chosen a date for closing George D. Lewis.
That means the group has time to continue to working toward the goal of taking the school off the closure list altogether.