VERDUN – An English educational institution is going the way of many other English schools in Quebec – being forced to close its doors due to declining enrolment.
More than 200 Riverview Elementary students will be transferred to Verdun Elementary, which is 1.3 kilometres away.
The Lester B. Pearson School Board (LBPSB) made the decision in a hair-splitting 7-6 vote.
“I’m very disappointed for sure. This shouldn’t happen at all,” said Kerry Carty, a parent.
The school board said neither Riverview nor Verdun Elementary are at full capacity, so merging them made the most sense.
“We’re not funded for our principal. We’re not funded for some of the specialists and we can’t offer all the different options that we can offer schools that have a critical mass in their population,” explained Suanne Stein Day, LBPSB chairperson.
The school board will save about $400,000 a year in operating costs, but no jobs will be lost.
Still, parents said they’ll try to appeal the decision.
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