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Percy Barrett, MHA for the District of Bellevue, called on the minister of
education in the House of Assembly today to intervene and prevent the
closure of schools in English Harbour East and Grand Le Pierre. "Parents
and residents are raising concerns that the decision of the school board was
rushed and not well researched," said Mr. Barrett. "They are very passionate
about the future of their community and the role of their school as a focal
point of their communities. It is clear that something is wrong with this
decision and I asked questions in the House of Assembly in order to bring
attention to this issue and to encourage the minister of education to use
her authority in reversing this decision."
The Eastern School Board has announced its intention to close the schools
in English Harbour East and Grande Le Pierre. If this closure were to
happen, students would be transported over treacherous roads from English
Harbour East to Terrenceville, a distance of 38 kilometers, and from Grande
Le Pierre to Terrenceville, a distance of 25 kilometers.
The Liberal MHA asked the minister whether she thought it reasonable to
have young students travel such a distance over a road that is very
treacherous during the winter. Barrett also pointed out that these schools
were designated as Necessarily Existent Schools by the previous
administration in recognition of the special circumstances they face.
"There is certainly a strong enough case to be made for keeping these
schools open and for the minister to become involved. Even the school board
trustee for the area has written the minister of education regarding these
schools and has asked for her to intervene. It is very significant for a
member of the school board to write to the minister and ask that a decision
of the board be reversed. This obviously demonstrates that problems exist
with the decision. Once again I ask Minister Burke, on behalf of the parents
and children of these communities, to seriously reconsider this decision and
keep these schools open until at least 2010."
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