The new chair of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board says she needs to bring unity to a school board that is facing some big decisions.

Cathy Curry, the trustee for South and North Kanata, was elected chair of the board at a meeting Tuesday night.

She replaces Lynn Scott, who has served as chair since December 2007.

Curry, who was a teacher until she retired in 1999, said the board has had challenges with division in the past.

“I see us over the past three years coming together, and I hope to be a part of bringing us even closer together this year," Curry said

Curry said the major issues the board will face this year are a review of alternative schools and potential changes to the board’s student transfer policy.

She said she wants to ensure parents that the review of alternative schools won't necessarily lead to school closures.

"The fear out there is that it's more than a review, that it's a move to close the schools," she said. "As the chair, I just hope to bring the message to the community that this is a cyclical review."

There are six alternative schools in Ottawa, where 1,200 students learn in what the board descibes as "non-competitive" environments.

Recommendations from the review will come out in January. In the meantime, Curry said she will keep reaching out to parents and students for feedback on board policies.