Society exploring new use for old Barton school

Group would like to see a community centre set up

The Saint Mary’s Bay Community Centre Society has been working diligently behind the scenes and would like to see a community centre entity set up in the former Barton School.

The society has reached out to experts, local successful community centres, officials and interested persons. On Friday, March 9, the core group met with the community at large to share their findings and deliberations. The session was held at the North Range Hall, where over 50 people attended.

There were no representatives from the municipality present, although the core group has had contact with Digby municipal recreation, trails and heritage departments.

Barton school was closed by the Tri-County Regional School Board in June 2017, after which time the property was turned back over to the Municipality of Digby by the school board.

The community society exploring what it would like to see as a future use for the property says Barton School is the last of many consolidated schools that were the product of the 1960’s movement to provide a more comprehensive education for our youth. Architecturally it is significant. But, for the citizens of these communities, it is so much more. The land was given by a citizen of this community for the school for a dollar. That dear one wanted that land in perpetuity to benefit the children and citizens of the community beyond his lifetime as his decedents who were in attendance attest.

A preliminary business plan says that it is possible to sustain this community place with a null input of tax dollars. The so- ciety would like to see a place for children, a place for non-profits, a place for seniors and a vibrant place for social enterprise.

This is a grass roots democratic movement that wants community direction. The next gathering is Thursday, March 15, 7 p.m. at the North Range Hall.