Halifax school board reacts to recommendations | CBC

CBC 7:19 PM Today – The one-man Halifax Regional School Board is being urged to wait on recommendations for reconfiguring schools until the province makes it clear how much money is available.

Board staff released their response to the Imagine Our Schools consultants’ report on Friday.

The consultants were hired to look at future needs and develop a 10-year master plan. They came up with a list of suggestions to close some schools, renovate others and build new ones, with an estimated cost of $300 million.

School board staff urge Howard Windsor, the appointee overseeing the board, to hold off on identifying schools for review for 2008-09.

Staff want Windsor to wait until provincial funding has been earmarked for specific projects to upgrade or replace schools.

Board staff disagreed with a few of the consultants’ recommendations for specific schools.

For example, the consultants proposed a review of Joseph Howe Elementary School in Halifax, but board staff recommend a new school.

And while the consultants said St. Patrick’s-Alexandra should be renovated, board staff said the school should be reviewed for closure.

Public meetings are scheduled for March 17 and 19 to give parents an opportunity to comment.