Sudbury board may take break from closing schools

A Sudbury-area school board is considering a two-year moratorium on school closures.

The Rainbow District School Board — which has been in shrinking mode for the past few years — will discuss the idea at its meeting this week.

Education director Norm Blaseg said the board, which recently voted to close four elementary schools, is still dealing with a student population on the decline.

But he noted that, with a provincial government burdened with debt, there could be big changes coming for education.

"With all of this uncertainty, we thought it was time to take a pause, and create some stability and wait for the dust to settle before we move forward," he said.

Larchwood Public School in Dowling has been targeted for review. Christa Garner was a student there and her three children currently attend the school.

Garner said the proposed moratorium is a relief — but takes small comfort in it "because you know they're going to choose us again in two years."

Garner said Larchwood parents are working hard to get the students involved in community events and organizations to help raise the school’s profile. She said she hopes that, if the board ever tries to close the school, everyone in Dowling will speak out against it — not just the parents.