Louisbourg school hub idea to be reviewed by consultant

A decision on whether to convertGeorge D. Lewis School in Louisbourg into a hub schoolwill likely be known sometime in August, saysthe chair of the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board.

A parents group has floated the idea of turning the building into a hub school since that designation would remove it from the closures list, if the school board accepts the concept.

The Hub School Society has developed a plan thatit hopes will attract organizations to rent space in the building, such as the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Cape Breton University, the International Centre for English Academic Preparation, and Parks Canada. By appealingto groupslooking for rentalspace, the hope is it would make the building financially viable.

There would be aseparate entrance for the primary to Grade8 school.

School board chair LorneGreen says a consultant will be hired toreview the Hub School Society's business plan and then write a report.

Hub School Society to be part of consultant hiring decision

The process of hiring a consultant will be opened up to a bidding process and include other factors.

"We want the hub committee to be part of the selection process," said Green.

He says the school board will pay for the consultant, but it isn't clear how much the cost will be.

Green saysthe board will meet with the Hub School Society on June 13and again as needed to discuss bids from consultantsand make a hiring decision.