The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg needs to take leadership and support communities.
That was one message from a group of about 50 people who attended the municipality’s consultation on rural school closures.
Other suggestions included firing the school board, halt the review process for Petite Riviere and Pentz schools or raise the issue with the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities.
Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson says they are trying to determine their role.
“There are still many other schools that will face school reviews in the future. We want to better understand how the community feels about municipal involvement in the school closure issue.”
The municipality contributes over $7.8-million in property tax revenue towards education and that doesn’t change if a school closes.
Another meeting on the issue is scheduled for 6:30 Monday night at the Northfield District Fire Hall.
After that meeting, suggestions will be compiled into a report that will be discussed at council and posted on the municipality’s website.
Meanwhile, the consultation is an encouraging sign for a board member with the Greater Petite Area Community Association.
Leitha Haysom says it’s important for the municipality to be involved.
“The municipality is a stakeholder. They definitely have a vested interest in what happens with small schools and I think they should be engaging with the province more frequently than they do.”
The association is preparing for its judicial review against the South Shore Regional School Board on September 7 in Nova Scotia Supreme Court.
The municipality is acting as an intervenor during the court proceedings.
