Five weeks ended up being not even close to enough time for a court challenge between the Yorkton area’s public and separate school boards.
The case is currently adjourned from the Court of Queen’s bench where, during November and December, the Good Spirit School Division started laying out its argument that Christ the Teacher Catholic Schools contravened the Education Act when it created a separate school division in Theodore to prevent the closure of the formerly public school there.
GSSD alleges the Catholic school in Theodore was created not to serve the minority Catholic population, but to circumvent the public board’s decision to close the school and bus students to nearby Springside based on the fact that most of the students are non-Catholic.
Christ the Teacher Catholic Schools maintains it has “the right to decide to admit non-Catholic School students and to determine the extent to which their admission allows us to maintain a truly authentic faith-based Catholic school system,” according to an open letter circulated just before the trial began. “Our faith is a journey that includes inquiry of non-Catholics and growth of existing members. This requires inclusion and a welcoming spirit.”
Prior to the adjournment, Justice Donald Layh scheduled a voir dire for March 22, 23 and 24 to determine whether evidence to be given by Dr. Ayman Aboguddah, president of the Regina Huda School Board is admissable.
The trial is scheduled to resume May 9 with six or seven more weeks set aside over May and June.
