Meetings scheduled on future of Queens County schools

The focus of the meetings will be Phase II of the board’s Program Review Process: School Utilization.

Renowned Nova Scotia educator, Dr. Jim Gunn is facilitating the meetings, which are, for the most part, linked to declining school enrolment numbers.

Funding is largely based on student numbers, meaning the board is facing losing even more valuable dollars that could affect programming and staffing.

Board Chair Wanda Broome said in an earlier press release, “We have four goals in the program review. We want to offer a sustainable educational program for all students. We want that program to meet high standards of quality that we can sustain over time. We want to preserve program options and choices for students when they reach senior high school. Finally, we want to ensure as high a level of equity of programming as possible for students throughout the region.”

Only two Queens County schools - Milton Centennial and Greenfield Elementary - increased enrolment this year.

The board has not ruled out closing schools.

The board is hosting a meeting at Liverpool Regional High School on Jan. 15 and North Queens Schools on Feb. 7. Both begin 7 p.m.

The school utilization study is available at www.ssrbs.ca or by telephoning 902-541-3005.