The Anglophone South School District Education Council will not be making a recommendation surrounding the future of 7 inner city schools in Saint John until the fall.
Chair Rob Fowler hopes this decision shows concerned residents, parents, and students that the DEC has listened to the public’s concerns since the beginning of the process.
Fowler says the process has been not only difficult for the public, but for the members of the DEC as well.
He says the best interests of the communities and students has always been the main priority.
Over the next couple of months the District Education Council will try to find an alternative to the situation and hopes this fall, communities will embrace the process and try to work collaboratively.
Even if students do have to move schools, Fowler says they aren’t talking huge travel distances no matter what happens.
Fowler used the distance of 10 km between St. John the Baptist-King Edward School and Millidgeville North as an example.
Rob Fowler, chair of the Anglophone South DEC, says no decision will be made surrounding the future of 7 #SaintJohn schools until this fall. pic.twitter.com/eCSJcEeyba
— Matt Mabee (@mattmabee7) May 10, 2017
Kevin Murphy is the Chair of the Parent School Community Council at Centennial and says the decision by the DEC to push its recommendation until the fall is exactly what he was hoping for.
He says these schools provide more than just a learning environment, they also offer social services which are important.
Heather Stephen is the Chair of the PSCC for M. Gerald Teed School. She hopes the process starts from scratch and says the second time around the opposition won’t be there because communities will feel like they’ve been heard.
The seven schools include Centennial, Hazen White-St.Francis, M. Gerald Teed, Millidgeville North, St. John the Baptist-King Edward, Prince Charles and Princess Elizabeth.
