The ring of the school bell is a familiar sound for students across Saskatchewan, but for kids at Pangman school, the bell is extra special.
For dozens of students, the beginning of this semester almost never happened.
The closure of Pangman school was up for review in 2012. Earlier in March, it was up for review again. In a 6-4 vote, South East Cornerstone School Division trustees voted in favour of keeping the school doors open.
School board trustee Elwood White said the school provides a good education for residents of the community.
His children Caleb and Skylar White attend Pangman school. They both explained they were excited to see friendly faces at school.
“You know everybody there, you know everybody in the school, so you’re not shy with anybody,” 10-year-old Skylar explained.
Her brother said he’s excited to learn new things at a school he’s familiar with.
“What I like about this school is how small it is… if you need help with anything,” 13-year-old Caleb said.
READ MORE: South Sask. village fights to keep their school open
Sharnareigh Hicks is a parent at the school. She said the school is a big part of the community, and it would be a shame for the village if it ever shut down.
“It’d be awful. It’s nice to have it open, it brings a lot of people in. I’m glad it’s open,” Hicks explained.
“It’s nice and convenient for us. It’s nice to have the kids close to us too.”
Pangman school is the only education institution in the village of 260 people.
Chair of the School Review Committee, Lori Wolstenholme, led the charge in the spring. She said the mood of families since the decision has been that of relief.
“There’s a lot of anxiety at the thought of the school closing,” Wolstenholme said.
“You don’t know if families will leave the community or how it will affect the community or the businesses in the community as well.”
It’s a question residents don’t need to answer yet. Wolstenholme said she hopes the school will remain open for the foreseeable future, but said that decision isn’t up to her.
“I’m really hopeful that the school will remain open, that we don’t fall under a review in the near future,” she explained.
“It’s hard on the community.”