The EFCL is entering discussions with the Edmonton Public School Board on the controversial issue of school closures.

Last fall, the school board agreed to a two-year moratorium on school closures, after the federation and many members of the public expressed their dissatisfaction with the current review process. It appeared to the EFCL that not enough focus was being placed on ways to keep schools open and viable.

The federation fully recognizes that this is a very difficult issue. The bottom line to much of this is the declining numbers of young families in mature neighborhoods, which is an issue the federation is reviewing in concert with the city’s recently-announced Community Revitalization task force.

The federation is hosting a meeting with the public school board on April 19 to kick start discussions on this topic.

Meanwhile, the federation is also attempting to meet with the Minister of Education to promote community usage of any new schools that are built.  A number of our newer leagues are looking at sharing space, rather than building a hall and the local school is an obvious option.