Salisbury School reacts to delay

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Salisbury School’s future remains uncertain with the two-month delay of the minister’s interim decision on whether or not to close the school.

The school has been informed that the Minister of Education has requested the ministry carries out further evaluation of the evidence detailed in the July 2016 Literature Review (‘Evaluation of the safety of children in coeducational residential special schools’), as well as further consideration of the 107 submissions received, before she makes her interim decision – now scheduled for early November.

If this interim decision is to close Salisbury, the school would close at the end of term 1, 2017.

School Chair John Kane says the delay should not be viewed as a reprieve.

“The uncertainty is still very stressful for families and staff,” says John. “I would like to publicly commend the commitment, resilience and patience of our staff, who are admirably keeping their primary focus on the welfare of the students.”

“We would also like to thank the large number of submitters for taking the time to put forward their opinions about our potential closure, and to the more than 4,200 people who have signed the petition supporting Salisbury School,” he says.

“We remain adamant that the evidence clearly proves the need for a single-sex special residential option,” John Kane says. “Our proposal for a better future for girls with intellectual disabilities and autism is ready to go, and is affordable.”