TRURO - Providing education with less resources, a new school, and reviewing current schools are a few of the major projects the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board has to tackle this year.
The board's vice-chairman, Keith MacKenzie, said an ongoing concern, based on recent education cuts, is providing adequate education with fewer tools.
"The challenge is to maximize the optimum support for our children with limited resources. Instead of being progressive we are doing the best with what we have," said MacKenzie.
A number of conversations around the CCRSB table during 2012 revolved around the effects of education cuts that were dictated by the provincial government. Concerns were not only for last year's job and resource cuts but how future years would fare.
"I'm hopeful we won't get further (major cuts) but it's in the hands of the government," said MacKenzie. "I hope to hear by February the direction we could be going in."
In regards to buildings, MacKenzie noted the continuation of plans to construct a new elementary school for Bible Hill is a high priority. The $11-million project, slated to open in 2014, will replace Bible Hill Central and Bible Hill East Court Road schools and accommodate less than 300 students. The project is expected to go to tender in the spring.
In contrast, a number of CCRSB schools are undergoing a school school review process that "will take a lot of time and effort," said MacKenzie. Bass River Elementary, East Pictou Middle School, Maitland District Elementary, River John Consolidated and Wentworth Consolidated Elementary are all undergoing a close examination based on capacity utilization, projected capacity utilization and enrolment, to name a few.
Other items of importance, said MacKenzie, include working on the school board's three-year strategic plan and various capital projects throughout CCRSB.
mchiasson@trurodaily.com
