New School Closure Guidelines

New school closure guidelines will make school valuation the centre of board and community discussions. The procedures carried out by boards must include the following:

1. A school valuation process determined with the help of a public committee and approved by the ministry.
2. Five-year capital plans that name the potential surplus schools and indicate overall system requirements to meet program needs.
3. One year's notice to school communities of consideration for closure.
4. Schools may only be proposed for closure once in a five-year period, pending legislative approval.
5. A draft of the school valuation in plain language must be made available to the public within two months of providing notice.
6. Several opportunities for public input must be held with wide notice given.
7. A task force is to be appointed. The task force, headed by a trustee, will have broad membership and hold public hearings, soliciting feedback and gaining community consensus.
8. The final school valuation with the committee recommendation must be made available 60 days before the board meeting where the decision will be made and a public meeting must be held to explain the ratings provided.
9. Boards' decisions can be appealed on the grounds of process. Upon receipt of a petition with 50 signatures or 50 per cent of affected parents, whichever is smaller, the ministry will cause an independent facilitator to conduct a review of the process to determine whether it matches provincial guidelines.
10. Boards will be responsible for tracking student retention and performance for students from closed schools.