The chair of the Near North District School Board is wondering what’s driving the province to provide more money for school renewal programs. Dave Thompson says when school boards began looking at consolidating schools, the government only provided money for new builds. However Thompson says that’s before trustees began asking for more new schools and suddenly money becomes an issue. “If you have 72 boards asking for money for new schools, and they don’t have enough money for new schools, is this the (next) lowest cost solution,” asked Thompson. Thompson says regardless of what funds are available now, Near North trustees have to decide what high school option is best for the students and board. He says afterward it’s up to the Ministry of Education to accept or reject whatever the Near North board recommends. But Thompson also hopes the new funds are applied fairly when the local trustees submit their consolidation recommendation to the government. “We’re afraid there’s going to be different rules for different folks. We just consistency and equity.” Trustees may vote at their June 27th meeting which high school option to recommend to the provincial government. However Thompson also says the timing of that vote could be delayed to another time.
