Blake Ellis/The Independent

A move to cut back on the number of public school board meetings in Lambton-Kent has failed. But administration will try again to convince trustees in September.

The move, as explained Lambton Kent District School Board Chief Executive Officer Gary Girardi, would lead to more efficiencies with the board and would bring Lambton-Kent in line with other school boards.

Girardi says school boards such as Upper Grand and Greater Essex have only five to 7 seven meetings annually.

The savings created by reducing board meetings in Lambton-Kent is estimated to be $11,000 to $13,000 a year.

Trustee David Shortt voted against the move saying reducing the number of meetings might lead to the perception that this move will be reduce the ability of public to ask questions of the board.

Girardi disagreed saying this won’t limit access to trustees, as the public can ask questions to trustees anytime.

Trustee Malinda Little voted in favour saying $11,000 to $13,000 might be a drop in the bucket, but trustees must do its part in finding cost savings within the organization.

Trustees of the Lambton-Kent School Board were deadlocked on a vote which would have reduced the number of school board meetings each year from 18 to nine.

With the tie vote, the idea was defeated.

The matter will come back to trustees during its Sept. 22 meeting for further consideration after administration reworks
the schedule and makes changes after trustee input.

If passed, the new school board meeting schedule will come in affect in November.