Printer-friendly versionAt the September 7, 2011 Regular Board meeting, members of the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board accepted a recommendation from the Board's Operations Committee to move to the next step in formal school review processes for Annapolis Royal Regional Academy and Newport Station District School. This follows receipt of School Closure Impact Assessments for these schools.
- Impact Assessment for Annapolis Royal Regional Academy
- Impact Assessment for Newport Station District School
The next step in the formal school review process is the formation of a Study Committee for each school, as outlined in the Ministerial Education Act Regulations of the Nova Scotia Education Act. A Study Committee is comprised of the School Advisory Council (SAC) for the school under review, with the exception of student representatives on the SAC. If a school does not have a SAC, or if the existing SAC does not met certain membership requirements, the Study Committee shall consist of:
- One parent of a child attending the school
- One teacher employed at the school
- One support staff member employed at the school
- The principal of the school
- At least one and no more than 10 representatives of the community in which the school is located
In addition, the Study Committee may appoint up to two students from the school under review to be part of the Study Committee. Other members of the community, including School Board members, may participate in the Study Committee as observers.
A Study Committee for each school under review must be established by October 7, 2011. After establishing the Study Committees, these are the next steps in the school review process:
- By October 21, 2011, the School Board shall call the first meeting of the Study Committee. The Study Committee will conduct at least one public meeting prior to preparing its written response to the Impact Assessment Report.
- By February 1, 2012, the Study Committee shall prepare a written response to the Impact Assessment Report and submit the response to the School Board. The response of each Study Committee shall include a recommendation about the decision of the school board to permanently close the public school that is subject to review.
- February 1, 2012, the School Board shall table the Study Committee response at a public meeting of its members.
- By March 1, 2012, the School Board shall conduct at least one public hearing to give the public an opportunity to make representations in respect of the Impact Assessment Report and the Study Committee’s response. (No later than 14 days before the date of the public hearing, the School Board shall give notice of the public hearing and invite public comments.)
- March 7, 2012, the School Board shall make a decision with respect to the outcome of the school review process at a public meeting. (No later than 15 days after the day the School Board makes a decision, the school board shall give public notice of the decision by posting it on the school board website.)