Government should follow their own precedent and reverse the decision to close Bayview Collegiate in St. Lunaire-Griquet

The Western School Board’s decision to close Bayview Regional Collegiate in St. Lunaire-Griquet is the wrong decision and one that should be overruled by government, says Marshall Dean, Opposition Education Critic. Dean raised the issue earlier today in the House of Assembly.

In 2005, government reversed the decision by the Nova-Central school board to close Leo Burke Academy in Bishop’s Falls. At the time, Premier Williams was quoted as saying that “the province will continue to overrule the decisions of government boards and consultants with whom it disagrees” and also stated that “You’ll see it again”.

“The closure of Bayview Collegiate would mean that children would have to be bussed up to 40km to St. Anthony,” said Mr. Dean. “This poses great safety concerns for parents and students, especially with the unpredictable harsh winter weather that is experienced on the northern peninsula. It is simply reckless to expect children to travel such long distances in dangerous conditions to receive an education.

“In addition, residents fear that the community will lose an important part of its identity with this school closure and it will be more difficult to attract young families to the area. If we are to grow rural areas of our province, these are not the actions we must undertake. This is a lesson this government continuously fails to learn and recognize.”

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