A December date has been set for the Town of Bridgewater’s solicitor to make a motion on directions for a judicial review.
A notice for the review was received by the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia on November 10.
The five-page notice indicates the Town of Bridgewater wants the South Shore Regional School Board’s decision to move grade 10-12 students from Bridgewater Junior-Senior High to Park View Education Centre be declared null and void.
The town solicitor lists several grounds for a judicial review including the school board and the appointed SOC failed to properly follow the school review policy.
Other reasons listed include a school review process that was fundamentally flawed because the SOC was too large, renovations at Park View started before the review was complete and failing to implement recommendations by Consultant Alphonse MacNeil after his independent report.
The matter will appear at the Bridgewater Justice Centre on December 20.
Meanwhile, Bridgewater’s mayor says he met this week with the school board chair and superintendent.
David Mitchell says the judicial review was discussed but talks centered around both sides having open communication and respect.
“Because if we don’t, the people who are going to be affected by this or by anything that turns nasty is going to be the students.”
Mitchell says there hasn’t been any indication from councillors about reversing their decision for a judicial review.
School Board Chair Elliott Payzant says it’s a waiting game.
“It’s sort of in the lawyers hands and they have a date for the 20th of December. That’s about as much as I know right now.”
Mayor Mitchell says there will be some in-camera talks but adds anything that can be made public, will be.
