It wasn’t unanimous but the Anglophone South District Education Council has voted to close both Lorne Middle School and Pennfield Elementary. Those recommendations now go to Provincial Education Minister Serge Rouselle for review. The students at Lorne will be attending Princess Elizabeth school.
There was concern expessed that most of the schol closures appear to be happening in rural areas. District Education Chair Rob Fowler warns this is just the beginning and schools in Saint John will be looked at because of declining enrollments.
School District Superintendant Zoe Watson also announcing the reconfiguration at Fundy High will be delayed until September of 2016 when grade six students will be moving there. In the meantime, concerns expressed by parents will be worked on and Watson indicates a name change might be in the works. Parents don’t want the middle school students to lose their identity and another concern is whether they will have sufficient time for physical education.
Parents will be able to have their say about the possible closures of Browns Flat Elementary school next month with the one at Norton Elementary on April 14th with a special meeting at the school district office in Millidgeville to be held on the fates of both schools April 29th.
