Board giving public more time to Imagine our Schools | The Herald

By KRISTEN LIPSCOMBE Education Reporter
Wed. Apr 2 – 5:40 AM
Halifax regional school board is shuffling around some meetings to allow for more public input on the Imagine Our Schools report.

Howard Windsor, the man at the board’s helm, was scheduled to make his decision on the future of Eastern Central and peninsular Halifax schools tonight but has said he will postpone the matter until April 23.

Tonight’s meeting will instead serve as a fourth public-submission session, with a fifth opportunity to provide feedback set for next Monday. Both gatherings will start at 6 p.m. at Keating Hall in Dartmouth High School on Victoria Road. Those interested in making a public presentation on either night should make their requests to do so by noon today.

There is also a regular school board meeting scheduled for next Wednesday evening, but spokeswoman Shaune MacKinlay told The Chronicle Herald that Mr. Windsor doesn’t intend to deal with the Imagine Our Schools staff report at that time.

When he does make his decision, Mr. Windsor can approve, reject or modify the school board staff report. Any schools that are recommended for review are also subject to a year-long study required by the Education Department.

Imagine Our Schools is a 10-year master plan for school facilities across the municipality, with the first instalment of recommendations put together by a consulting firm from Toronto. The firm’s recommendations and the staff report are both available online