School board votes to keep 5 schools with 89 students total open

Despite low enrolment and the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District's efforts to manage costs, board trustees voted Saturday to keep five rural schools with a total of 89 students open.

• 5 schools with combined enrolment of 89 students being considered for closure

The district said it would save the province $1.7 million annually to remove "excessive infrastructure" by closing the schools, but board members disagreed.

"In this particular case there was a motion presented, recommended, and the motion was defeated," saidGoronwyPrice, chair of theboard.

"So in that case we have to maintain the status quo until such time that we are able to address those concerns and we can make the other alternatives real."

For trustees who voted against the closures, like Peter Whittle,the reason was student safety.

"I have some serious concerns about the safety of students going on the Trans-Canada Highway in that part of the Burin Peninsula. Being from the Burin Peninsula myself I know how nasty that section can be," he said.

Recommendations to the board called for the closure of fiveschools, but the board voted to close only one: H.L. Strong Academy in Little Bay Islands, which has no students and no expected enrolment.

Appalachia High School in St. George's will be consolidated with Our Lady of Mercy Elementary, which are adjoined.

The four schools that will now stay open are:

• LeGallaisMemorial in Isle aux Morts
• Swift Current Academy
• James Cook Memorial in Cook's Harbour
• Leading Tickles Primary

The largest school population is LeGallaiswith 47 students.

Price said the reviews of schools will start all over again, as the province right now has more than 250 schools.