It appears a settlement has been reached in bankruptcy proceedings with the RC Church that will ensure public schools on the Avalon Peninsula continue to operate as is.

The 30 or so schools from St. John’s to Marystown are owned by the Church, which is selling assets to settle sex abuse claims.

About $30 million was raised from the sale of churches properties, with another $20 million needed to compensate all of the roughly 100 victims.

As a result, lawyers turned their attention to the schools, if they were deemed fair game by the court.

Legislation states the schools must continue as is, under government control, as long as they’re being used for education.

But lawyers for victims noted they’re still owned by the Archdiocese, and should be included in the matter.

The court was set to hear arguments on that contentious point last month.

But in a move long expected, government lawyers said they had instructions to negotiate values for the schools that will go into the settlement pot, while the province assumes formal control to seamlessly keep them operating.

All parties were due in court next Tuesday for an update on that work.

But that has now been postponed, with all signs pointing to a formal agreement being put before the court the next day, April 19, instead.