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PRSD waiting to see what impact will be for school closure changes on Graysville review
By Heather Baril
Friday May 09, 2008
The impact of proposed amendments to place a moratorium on school closures remains to be seen on a process under way in the Prairie Rose School Division (PRSD).
Under the proposed amendments introduced at the end of April by Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth Minister Peter Bjornson to the Public Schools Act, closures of schools would be allowed only in exceptional circumstances.
To keep schools open, Bjornson said the province would provide greater funding to assist school divisions and also review programming options.
The division board is nearing the end of review process regarding the proposed closure of Graysville School due to declining enrollment, a process division Supt. Fred Colvin said they know will be impacted by the proposed amendment - but not how.
“The board will have to discuss how that impacts on our process,” Colvin said. “If the legislation is passed, and in all likelihood it will be, what do we do with our current process?”
Bjornson cited the amendments as a means of supporting families and communities in the face of demographic changes and declining enrolment.
"Having local public schools is vital to the quality of the total educational experience, especially for young children. Schools also play an important role in communities, especially in rural areas, as gathering places for social and cultural events, athletics, community meetings and adult education," Bjornson said in a prepared statement. "To determine the most effective ways to use these buildings to serve their communities on a long-term basis, we will consult with school divisions about the regulations.”
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