School board votes 7-3 to give students option of staying put

By Tina Comeau

NovaNewsNow.com



Students in Shelburne, Yarmouth and Digby counties who will be affected by changes to school boundaries can remain in the schools they are now enrolled in, but their transportation will become the responsibility of their parents starting in September.

The Tri-County Regional School Board has voted 7-3 in favour of grandfathering meaning students who don’t live in the new catchment areas won’t be forced to change schools.

But students must have been legitimately enrolled in their current elementary, junior or senior high school during the 2006/07 school year and grandfathering will not apply to siblings just entering school in the fall.

Parents will have to arrange transportation to and from the school, or they will have to bring their child to the nearest approved bus stop. The latter, however, does not necessarily guarantee that there will be space on the bus.

Any family that chooses to leave their children at their current school must inform the principal of their intention as soon as possible.

Not all school board members favoured grandfathering. Some felt it undermines the two years of work of the boundaries review committee and another raised concerns that leaving students at one Yarmouth County elementary school will continue to contribute to overcrowding there.



































QUICK GLANCE



Board members present at the March 20 board meeting that voted in favour of grandfathering:

From Yarmouth County: Winnie Surette, Anne Moses, Ron Hines

From Digby County: Alvin Comeau, Faye Haley

African Nova Scotian representative: Michael Alden Fells

Mi’kmaq representative: Janice Francis



Board members that voted against grandfathering:

From Yarmouth County: Joan Brewer

From Shelburne County: Nick Pippy

From Digby County: Donna Tidd