EDUCATION Minister Peter Bjornson warned St. James-Assiniboia trustees Thursday they're wasting their time continuing to plan the possible closing of Ness Junior High.
Bjornson declared unequivocally in an interview that he will not allow any of the nine city schools that have been under closure threat to be closed.
He introduced a moratorium on school closings last week.
"When I introduced the legislation, it was to keep schools open," Bjornson said.
He added that he could possibly allow an exception, if a rural division proposed consolidating an elementary school with a nearby high school into one building -- but only if they were small schools located in close proximity in a rural area.
"That is very extreme circumstances," he said.
Bjornson said there are no circumstances under which any of the proposed closings within the city would constitute a consolidation.
"That is correct," Bjornson replied, when asked if he would not allow St. James-Assiniboia to close Ness.
St. James-Assiniboia board plans to hear a recommendation from superintendent Ron Weston Tuesday evening. Both Ness and Hedges have been under review for possible closure since last year, and it is likely that Weston will support a community review committee's recommendation to move staff and programs from Ness to Hedges in the fall of 2009.
The division plans a public forum May 26 and a final vote May 27.
That's academic, said Bjornson -- whatever the trustees do, he will not allow Ness or Hedges to close.
Parent Leanne Carlson said Thursday that she and other Ness parents have been circulating a petition and will be canvassing the neighbourhood this weekend, to make it clear to Bjornson that the community does not accept any proposal to close Ness.
"It seems to me they (St. James-Assiniboia board) had a clear agenda going into it," Carlson said.
Meanwhile, Bjornson met Thursday with parents from Lakeshore School Division, who oppose the consolidation of early years schools in Ashern and Fisher Branch. Schools in both communities would be moved into the local high schools, which would become kindergarten to Grade 12 schools in September 2009.
Bjornson said he is allowing Lakeshore to proceed, because the Lakeshore school board voted to close the early years schools before Jan. 1, 2008.
Bjornson refused to say if there is any chance he would reverse his decision.
nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca
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