News release

Boundary Review Committee Announces Meeting Dates

Education (July 1999 - March 2013)

Nova Scotia's task force on school board boundaries has released a consultation guide and public meeting schedule to help the public provide input into its review over the next few weeks.

"The task force is looking forward to hearing the views of Nova Scotians on the effectiveness of our present school board boundaries," said Pat Smith, task force chair. "Task force members are well versed in school board issues and we think it's a good time to evaluate how school boards are doing."

Education Minister Jane Purves has appointed Ms. Smith, a former president of the Nova Scotia School Boards Association, and four others to conduct a review of school board boundaries, fulfilling a major government commitment.

Other members include Ernie Bolivar, Mayor of Bridgewater, Vicki Brown, former chair of the Halifax Regional School Board, Frank MacInnis, former principal of the Nova Scotia Community College's Strait Campus, and Stan Surette, former executive director of the Nova Scotia School Boards Association.

Ms. Smith said the review will look at the effectiveness of school board boundaries in the areas of finance, programs and services, roles and responsibilities, and Francophone governance.

The task force has scheduled public meetings across the province throughout the month of January, and will take comments and submissions through the mail, via the Internet, and on a toll- free phone line. The minister has asked for a report by mid- February to accommodate school board elections in the fall.

"Nova Scotians have a number of options to provide feedback on how the present school board structure is working," said Ms. Smith. "We recognize that time is short, but we are committed to considering every submission."

Public meetings are scheduled as follows:
Jan. 10
Berwick Berwick and District School

Jan. 11 Meteghan Ecole Secondaire de Clare (French)

Jan. 12 Yarmouth Meadowfield School

Jan. 13 Bridgewater Hebbville Academy

Jan. 18 Sydney Sherwood Park School

Jan. 19 Inverness Inverness Academy

Jan. 19 Petit-de-Grat Ecole Petit-de-Grat (French)

Jan. 20 Mulgrave Mulgrave Professional Centre

Jan. 25 Dartmouth Dartmouth High School

Jan. 26 Truro Cobequid Education Centre AV Room

Jan. 27 Dartmouth Ecole Carrefour (French)

All meetings will take place between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., with the exception of the Jan. 19 meeting in Inverness which will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

A guide called A Review of School Board Boundaries - A Guide for Public Input, is available to help the public submit comments on the topic. The guide is available on the Internet at www.schboards.ednet.ns.ca , by visiting the Government Bookstore at 1700 Granville St., or at Access Nova Scotia Centres across the province.

To submit comments or written submissions, call toll-free 1-877- 296-1702, e-mail at schboards@ednet.ns.ca, or write Task Force on School Board Boundaries, c/o Nova Scotia Department of Education, Policy Branch, P.O. Box 578, Halifax, N.S., B3J 2S9.