FREDERICTON – The fate of a dozen New Brunswick schools is up in the air, but a former teacher turned politician is asking that none be closed until the province releases its 10-year education plan.
Gary Crossman taught for 32 years before becoming an MLA six months ago, and he said it’s been a tough year for him seeing so many schools up for closure.
“They’re all special schools, the school culture is different in each one,” he said.
Twelve Anglophone schools are undergoing reviews under policy 409, which covers the closure of schools. Some are being considered due to the security or health of the school, while others are on the chopping block because of declining enrollment and sustainability concerns.
Nine of the 12 schools have fewer than 100 students. Dalhousie Regional High and Dalhousie Middle operate under the same roof. The district is only considering consolidating the two school’s administration. The same is being considered for Stanley High and Stanley Elementary.
The full list of schools that could be closed:
- Dalhousie Regional High School – 253 students (consolidation with Dalhousie Middle)
- Dalhousie Middle School – 97 students
- Norton Elementary – 82 students
- Brown’s Flat Elementary – 43 students
- Pennfield Elementary – 59 students
- Lorne Middle School – 50 students
- Dorchester Consolidated – 64 students
- Riverside Consolidated – 45 students
- Stanley High School – 147 students (consolidation with Stanley Elementary)
- Stanley Elementary School – 125 students
- Coles Island School – 30 students
- Bath Middle School – 44 students
INTERACTIVE: See where the schools up for closure are located
“Our enrollment is declining two to three per cent each year,” said Anglophone South superintendent Zoë Watson. “It’s challenging.”
But Crossman would like to see other options explored while waiting for the Liberals to unveil their promised education plan.
“If they can make them a community school over the next year, reduce your staffing…you have your daycare programs included, use the building and maximize use of the school in the interim,” he said.
“It’s all a numbers game.”
He said about 80 per cent of the budget is taken up by salaries.
Ultimately, the decision to close the school rests with Education Minister Serge Rousselle, but he receives his recommendations from the districts.
The districts have been holding public consultations with the school communities. Some schools have just had their first meeting while others are gearing up for their final meeting.
Recommendations could land on Rousselle’s desk as early as this week.
“They will come to me and I will have to decide within 30 to 60 days if I agree with the decision,” he said. “I’m not just agreeing with the decision, I have to decide if there was fair process.”
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