P.E.I. school closures not certain, but talks start next month

The chair of P.E.I.'s English Language School Board says a discussion on the future of the province's schools is likely to begin at the next board meeting, Nov. 24 in Stratford.

But Fred Osbourne won't pre-judge the outcome by saying whether the discussion could lead to any school closures.

The board has just approved a new school change policy, detailing the process which would lead to future closures, amalgamations or rezoning.

"There's a need to look at schools, but we're not going to say, 'Well, there's a need for this scenario or that scenario,'" said Osbourne.

"It's going to be a need to look at and review schools. The whole purpose of the whole program of education is to give the best education possible to children with the resources given to us by government," he said.

In 2009, P.E.I.'s Eastern School Board voted to close eight schools.

The process pitted trustees against each other, and the entire board was eventually fired by the minister of education.

Two years ago, the province's two English boards were amalgamated. The current trustees were appointed by government.