Judge tells parents to send students to new schools

The judge who quashed the education minister's decision to close Brown's Flat Elementary and Lorne Middle schools told parents of children affected by the closures to send their children to their new schools when classes begin next week.

Justice Darrell Stephenson made the comment from the bench after hearing arguments on a motion by the parents that he order the government to reopen the schools.

"Let's remain calm," Stephenson said.

But he saideducationdollars need to be spent as efficiently as possible.

"Tough decisions have an impact on people. We recognize that," says Gallant.

Gallant said he wants to be the premier to spend the most on education.

In a ruling released last week, Stephensonsaid the procedure to close schools was not properly followed in the case of Brown's Flat and Lorne Middle schools.

The Anglophone South School District subsequently said it was proceeding with plans to relocate the students to new school next week as it would be "impossible" to reverse the closures on such short notice.

The decision led lawyer Kelly Lamrock to head back to court as the representative of the parents to ask the court to order the ruling to be followed.

In Friday's hearing in Saint John, Stephenson said it was not practical to expect a school district to turn a decision to close a school around on a dime.

Stephensonasked parents to prepare fuller arguments on the matter and return to court on Sept. 14 to deal with the issue in more depth.

The judge said he understands the parents are uncertain about what is happening and allowed Friday's hearing to clear up that confusion.

But he told them he had no intention of ordering the schools to open on Friday.

"Nothing is happening here today," said Stephenson.

Meanwhile, the provincialgovernment has appealed Stephenson's decision to the New Brunswick Court of Appeal and asked for Stephenson's ruling to be stayed pending a hearing of the appeal.

On Tuesday at 1 p.m., a Court of Appeal justice will hear arguments on the motion to put Stephenson's ruling on hold pending the full appeal hearing.