Consultants target four Halifax schools for possible closure

Four schools on the Halifax peninsula have made the list for possible closure because of falling enrolment.

Three are in central and north-end Halifax. They are: St. Catherine's Elementary on Connolly Street with an enrolment of 311 students, St. Joseph's-Alexander McKay Elementary on Russell Street with 235 students and Joseph Howe on Maynard Street with 111 students.

The Halifax Regional School Board's Imagine our Schools consultants outlined the list of recommended closures to a packed cafeteria at Citadel High in Halifax on Tuesday night.

The only school in the south end of Halifax to make the list is Cornwallis Junior High on Preston Street with 239 students.

But it might survive if parents can make a case that Gorsebrook Junior High on South Street with 223 students should close instead, the consultants said.

Denise Allen, a parent who lives in the north end of Halifax, said that regardless of falling enrolment numbers, closing three schools with a lot of African-Nova Scotian students may lead to more children dropping out because they need small class sizes to learn.

"I mean, we have to look at some real hard-core facts and realities in terms of the black community. If we don't start now, when are we gonna ever start? The highest dropout rate, I mean, if you look at the number, one in two will drop out before they get to Grade 9," Allen said.

Lead consultant Maureen O'Shaughnessy said the list is subject to change if residents can make a solid case to save any of the four schools.

The recommendations will go to the Halifax Regional School Board on March 5.

The school board now has 85 elementary schools.