News Release

Councillor Fed Up with School Board Performance

(Thursday, February 23, 2006) - Recent turmoil at the Halifax Regional School Board has District 20 Councillor Bob Harvey wondering if the best interests of the 55,000 students in HRM are being served..

Councillor Harvey is calling on the Minister of Education to take direct control of education in the Halifax Regional Municipality and remove the current Halifax Regional School Board.

Councillor Harvey said “Twice in recent times Board members have walked out of a meeting unable to conduct the business of education. Internal difficulties have now impacted on the Board's ability to perform their role and make the decisions they are elected to make.”

HRM taxpayers provide millions of dollars in mandatory provincial and supplementary funding to the Board.

Councillor Harvey went on to say "The educational future of our students and the spending of the tax dollars of our residents are paramount in this issue and the School Board has demonstrated in recent months they are incapable of making the decisions necessary to achieve educational goals. According to their website, the School Board is committed to putting students first and in light of the events of the past year, I don’t believe this is happening and it is time to axe this dysfunctional board."

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Contact: Councillor Bob Harvey, District 20

Tel: 488-4820