WATCH ABOVE: The battle by parents the keep Lorne Middle School in Saint John, and Browns Flat school open was back before a judge Friday. Global’s Andrew Cromwell reports.
SAINT JOHN – A hearing regarding the future of two schools has been adjourned until mid-September.
The Department of Education ordered to close Browns Flat Elementary and Lorne Middle School under the province’s school closure policy earlier this year.
Last Friday, a judge quashed the Department of Education decision to close the two schools, saying the department did not follow its own process to close the schools properly.
READ MORE: Decision to close Browns Flat, Lorne Middle schools overturned
But despite the court’s ruling, the superintendent of the Anglophone South School District said the district is continuing with a plan to move students from the two schools to their assigned other schools.
READ MORE: District says ‘it would be impossible’ to reopen Browns Flat, Lorne Middle schools
The school’s lawyer, Kelly Lamrock, returned to the Saint John law courts Wednesday, filing an application. He is asking the court to quash the placement of students at schools other than Browns Flat and Lorne Middle.
On Friday, the hearing was adjourned to allow both parties more time to prepare their arguments.
Justice Darrell Stephenson asked that parents to cooperate, and send their children to the other schools until the matter is sorted out.
The hearing will resume on Sept. 14.
Education Minister goes to Court of Appeal
New Brunswick’s Education Minister Serge Rousselle broke his silence on the matter Wednesday.
“Following a thorough review of Justice Darrell Stephenson’s decisions concerning recent school sustainability studies, the government has decided it will appeal the rulings to the New Brunswick Court of Appeal and seek a stay of the judge’s order,” Rousselle said in a statement.
The hearing regarding the stay of the judge’s order is scheduled for Tuesday.
READ MORE: Browns Flat to fight for school in court, 28 others up for review in upcoming school year
With files from Global’s Andrew Cromwell
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