Sudbury's school closures in focus for Rainbow school board trustee elections

The controversial decision to close some of Sudbury’s elementary schools is a hot topic again in the municipal election.

Three of the candidates running to be a trustee on the Rainbow District School Board were among the outspoken parents calling to keep the schools open four years ago, specifically Long Lake.

 Anita Gibson, a candidate for trustee for Area two, alleges the board had already decided to close the school (along with Wanup School) before public consultation even began.

"The public's left feeling tricked and left out,” Gibson said. “And a trustee might end up being no more than an apologist for an unpopular board decision.”

The current trustee, and incumbent Tyler Campbell, admitted that this past term was not an easy one.

"Being a trustee over the last decade with the Rainbow District School board has been difficult. We've made a lot of tough choices,” Campbell said.

However, at a trustees debate Tuesday night, Campbell also added that he didn’t regret making those tough choices, adding that the money the Rainbow Board saved from closing old buildings was invested in math education and in hiring social workers to combat mental illness.