The Belleville Accommodation Review Committee meets to discuss proposed public school closures, at Centennial Secondary School, on February 15, 2017. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
Representatives from 11 Belleville public schools had their first chance to work together and discuss proposed closures and consolidations last night.
Members of the Belleville Accommodation Review Committee began looking at plans for school changes in Belleville, which are needed because of declining funding, tied to enrolment and a lengthy and expensive list of repairs at schools across the Hastings and Prince Edward Board.
Superintendent Trish FitzGibbon led the meeting and was impressed by the depth of the discussion.
Each school group included a mix of a principal or designate, both teaching and non-teaching school staff members, parents, students and community members.
FitzGibbon tells Quinte News, these discussions could lead to big changes, so the varied input is crucial.
The committee will meet again on March 23 for a similar working session and their findings and recommendations will be submitted to the board, before it makes its final decision on the proposals in mid-to-late-June.
Similar changes are proposed in both Prince Edward County and in Centre Hastings.
Click here to visit the Hastings and Prince Edward School Board website, which has links to full reports, meeting minutes and schedules and other information and updates on the accommodation review process.
