Parry Sound has joined a local school board in calling on the province to ensure rural elementary schools stay open.
In October, the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) called on the Ministry of Education not to exercise the authority granted by Bill 98 for the closure of rural elementary schools.
Passed earlier this year, Bill 98, dubbed the Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, amends the Education Act when it comes to when a board may or must sell, lease or otherwise dispose of a school site, part of a school site or school property, and gives the Minister regulation-making powers, among others, over such dispositions.
Town Council carried the motion on Tuesday supporting the NNDSB.
The motion also calls for a study to be undertaken to find out which of the two rural elementary schools, McDougall or Nobel Public Schools, is the most appropriate to stay open in our district.
The motion says one of the two will be needed to serve the area’s growing population and alleviate the need to add to the current JK-Grade 12 mega-school construction project (NNDSB awards mega school’s tender to Van Horne Construction – My Parry Sound Now).
The resolution was also forwarded to the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, the province and West Parry Sound District Municipalities.