Casey to end speculation about Strait board

The future of the troubled Strait Regional School Board will berevealed next week.

Nova Scotia Education Minister Karen Casey said she'll be in Port Hastings on Monday to make an announcement regarding the school board.

Casey has said she would consider disbanding the elected board if the chairman asked.

Board chair Henry Van Berkel said he faxed a letter to the minister Friday afternoon, but wouldn't comment on its contents.

On Thursday, Van Berkelsaid he would support disbanding the12-member elected boardin light of theongoing squabbles at meetings.

Casey has already taken away some of the board's powers. In February, she appointed John Sears, a former university professor, to temporarilymanage finances and human resources.

In 2007,Casey ordered the board to rewrite its code of ethics so that members must be respectful of others.

The Strait school board oversees the education of 7,830 students.

In 2002, the board was stripped of its powers after an audit found spending irregularities.