New School Review Process Begins

School review process changes that ensure extensive public consultation are now in effect.

"The new school review process ensures that all voices are heard about a school's future," Education Minister Karen Casey said.

"It also establishes a very public and thorough process that school boards must follow."

For example, a board must prepare a comprehensive impact assessment report that explains why a school should be under review. The report must include historical and projected enrolment data, population trends for the school area and an assessment of the school's physical condition.

The new process also extends the time frame of the review process to a year, requires public and school staff participation and sets out a mandatory timetable.

A school review will begin no later than April 1 and a decision must be made by March 31 of the following year.

Under the new process, the earliest a school identified for review would close is September 2009.

Key deadlines in the school review process:

• April 1: Board identifies which school(s) it wants to review for possible closure.
• May 31: Board prepares a comprehensive impact assessment report for each school identified for review. The report provides a comprehensive rationale that explains why the school is under review. This rationale conforms to standards prescribed by the regulations.
• June 15: A study committee is struck. Its members are defined in law to ensure public representation.
• June 30: Study committee meets for first time.
• Nov. 30: Study committee submits its response to the impact assessment report and its recommendation for the future of the school.
• Jan. 31: School board releases to public study committee report and recommendations.
• March 15: Board holds a public meeting to discuss the study committee report and recommendation.
• March 31: School board announces results of review.

For this year only, the deadline to identify schools for review has been extended to April 30.

Some school-review processes were put on hold pending the results of the provincewide review and proclamation of the legislation. The schools now must be reviewed as part of the new process.

The process is based on the recommendations of a review committee that looked into the school closures process last year.