Chester Council met with the community Monday night to discuss the future of the Gold River/Western Shore school.
About 70 residents were present to hear how council arrived at the decision to put it up for sale.
Heather Brooker has submitted a proposal to turn the school into a community hub.
She says it’s important council respects the community’s wishes.
“They don’t want to see the property go to some multi-million dollar person who will remove the playground equipment and not have something [built] for the community stay in the community.”
Chester Warden Alan Weber says he was glad to be able to explain the process to the community.
Weber says some want to wait until after the election to make a decision on the school.
But he has his concerns about that approach.
“We don’t want to necessarily turn it into a particularly political issue – which it shouldn’t be. It should be based on sound reasoning and what’s best for the community.”
Weber says he wants to ensure residents are involved in the fate of the school.
He says council will be reviewing Brooker’s proposal over the next couple of weeks and can’t comment on it while it’s under review.
