Citizens in the Western School Division (WSD) had the chance to voice there comments and concerns last week in round table discussions with members of the board.

Board Chairperson, Brian Fransen says that overall there was a lot of positive feedback. Although there were also many comments about changes that could be made in the division, he says these critiques are simply trying to improve a system that is already working.

"We wanted to have an opportunity for the public to share what they were thinking about what was going on in the division, and to help guide our decision making process for the upcoming budget, as well, as we get into our strategic planning for our next board priorities plan that should have an impact for the next four or five years."

He says there was a large range of topics brought up around the four different discussion tables.

"Our table topics spanned many different topics from how are we preparing students for life outside of school? How is our funding situation? What are the services and the programming that we are implementing, and how effective is that? What do you look for in a new school? What is working with what we're doing, and what isn't working with what we're doing?"

The provincial government's education review was also a hot topic, and Fransen notes that WSD is a big advocate for the Local Voices, Local Choices campaign.

The board's advocacy for a new school was one of the major topics of the evening.

"We did talk about that at the community event and making sure that people are aware that there is information out there for them to look at, and to do research on their own and let their voice be heard with the provincial government on the education review. It's a very important thing that's going to impact education for the next several generations."

There have been talks about rural school divisions amalgamating into one larger division, but he says this would be less than ideal and questions whether it would actually save any money in the long run.

"Especially in the rural areas. I mean, every community has different needs and so if you have people who have needs in one community and other people in other communities who have other needs, and you have one school division that's trying to do things consistently across the board, it's going to be really difficult to make sure that every community's needs are met."

Fransen adds that he can't speak to comments which took place at the other three tables, but a full collection of data will be available at their regular Monday night board meeting which takes place February 25 at 7:30 p.m.