City council has overturned their vote on allowing a Montessori School to expand. For the first time in at least five years, the city has looked at an issue for a second time and changed their minds. Jennifer Burtch will now be allowed to add three students to her classroom, bringing the total to eight. Councillor Rick Dubeau, who originally voted against the expansion, flipped his vote, saying he did so after looking into the school in more detail. He says he visited the school, and saw the environment the kids will learn in. Dubeau says it is a great environment, but more importantly Burtch has a degree in Early Childhood Education and is a certified Montessori School teacher. Dubeau says that makes her uniquely qualified to handle three more children in the classroom.Â
Mayor Steve Black says this move isn’t something you see very often at council. He says sometimes when council members change their decision, whether it be during one meeting or in a follow-up meeting, there is backlash from the community and they hear terms like “flip-flop”. But Black says it’s the responsibility of council to fully look into an issue and make the best decision for the city. In the end, council voted in favour of the expansion seven to two.
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