Chignecto-Central school reviews to continue

Some parents say they're worried five schools in the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board are still facing possible closure after the board decided to continue its review and proceed to public hearings.

At a special meeting Tuesday night in Truro, board members voted to continue the review process for Bass River Elementary School, East Pictou Middle School, Maitland District Elementary School, River John Consolidated School and Wentworth Consolidated Elementary School.

The schools were identified for possible closure last fall.

The closures are not a done deal — each school has until March 24 to hold a public hearing and hear from parents and stakeholders in the community.

"Hopefully a lot of our community members will come out and speak to the school board and help them make the decision — the right decision — to keep not only our little school but the other little schools, the four other schools that they're going to close," said Laurel Adams, who lives in Wentworth.

"They shouldn't be closing elementary schools at all."

Helen Feeley, one of 45 people who attended Tuesday night's meeting, said she was hoping the board would remove Wentworth Consolidated Elementary School from the list for possible closure.

"My four kids went there. It's always been a part of the community and the community has been part of the school," she told CBC News.

Gary Clarke, the superintendent of the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board, said the board is working with tight budgets and public input is key in helping the board make the right decisions.

"The board certainly, in the future, has some very difficult decisions to make," he said.

"We're looking forward to going out and hearing from the public. It's really significant that we do that."