Relieved and reassured, were the feelings of the Christ the Teacher Catholic School Division, after the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the appeal in the Theodore School court case.
In a news release, the school division went on to call the decision a victory for both religious and parental rights and freedoms in selecting a faith based education.
Public Schools of Saskatchewan Executive Director Norm Dray provided his reaction. He says he was disappointed by the decision.
“We felt that our position was a good one, and we felt it was the right thing for the students of Saskatchewan to be heard at the Supreme Court.” Dray said. “No reason was given for their decision so we don’t know why the court decided the way they did,”
Dray calls the ruling a blow.
“Public schools in Saskatchewan are the only schools that serves any student that turns up at the door, and we really feel that funding and maintaining a strong public education system is very important.”
The Theodore Public School closed in June of 2003, but community residents were successful in converting it to a Catholic school by September of 2003, and it remains open to this day.