At a Special Board Meeting on March 25, 2014, School District 70 trustees voted unanimously to rescind the March 11, 2014 decision that would have seen the closure of both Gill Elementary and Eighth Avenue Elementary schools. Trustees further decided that there would be no school closures for the 2014/15 school year, retaining the current schools and grade configuration for at least one more year.
“Following the March 11th meeting the Board received considerable feedback from parents and community members citing legal and procedural concerns about the decision to close Gill and Eighth Avenue schools”, said Board Chair Larry Ransom. “In response to these concerns, the Board sought legal advice about its school closure process and, ultimately, decided to rescind the March 11th decision.”
The Board also acknowledged that its policy on school closure was not in compliance with Ministerial Order 194 – School Opening and Closure and would be revised prior to the start of any subsequent school closure process.
Chair Ransom further clarified that the ongoing financial pressures facing the school district will be addressed through the upcoming budgeting process and that a new school closure and/or reconfiguration process would commence in the fall of 2014.
For more information on this issue please contact:
Larry Ransom, Board Chair
Cam Pinkerton, Superintendent
