Halifax board considers 3 school closures

The Halifax Regional School Board will decide this week if three schools that were recommended for closure will be shut down.

Alderney Elementary School in Dartmouth and St. Patrick's Alexandra School and St. Mary's School in Halifax have been slated for closure, but one school board member told CBC News he believes one school will remain open because of its unique catchment.

"I'm not overly worried about St. Mary's. We haven't made any decision, we'll decide that on Tuesday night, but I think the presentation that the parents made was pretty persuasive," said board member David Cameron.

Cameron said saving St. Mary's was one of the reasons he ran for the school board in fall 2007. The school, on Morris Street, has faced the threat of closure several times in the past and survived.

At least half of the 110 students who attend are from outside peninsular Halifax, dropped off by parents who commute from outside the city for work.

Cameron said although he is hopeful for St. Mary's future, the survival of St. Patrick's Alexandra in Halifax's North End is less likely, as its enrollment has been steadily declining, to 80 students this year.

Irvine Carvery, chair of the board, said there have been several presentations by the parents of the three schools but the board has yet to publicly debate the possible closures.

"Tuesday night will be the first time that the board has actually, as a group, had discussions around them," he said.

The board is expected to make a decision on the two Halifax schools Tuesday night, while a decision on Alderney Elementary is expected to happen Wednesday.

The Halifax Regional School Board oversees 137 schools and is the largest school board in Atlantic Canada.