The newly-elected chair of the Bluewater District School Board says the board has some heavy-lifting to do.
Hanover and West Grey trustee Ron Motz was selected as the board’s chair at the inaugural meeting Tuesday night.
During his address to the trustees, the fifteen-year veteran of the board said if they wanted to maintain programs, they would need to cut back on vacant spaces, ultimately closing schools.
"If we are going to maintain the programs we have, we must reduce the vacant spaces," Motz spoke about the 32 per cent vacancy rate in area classrooms. "What that entails is we have to close some schools."
The Bluewater District board ended this past fiscal year with a $400-thousand deficit.
When asked if these possible school closures would happen during his one-year term, Motz said he didn't think it will happen that quickly.
"We still don't have the new guidelines for the process from province, and that isn't expected until January. So by the time we get that process going, I don't see it happening in 12 months."
Motz spent over fifteen years with the board before retiring in 2013.
Owen Sound trustee Marg Gaviller lost to Motz in the vote for chair, but was later selected as vice-chair.