Several Edmonton public schools to close

The fate of a number of Edmonton public schools slated for closure has been sealed.

Just after one am Wednesday morning, trustees gave their final votes to close Eastwood, McCauley, Parkdale, Fulton Place and Capilano schools. Spruce Avenue’s elementary program will also end by the end of this school year.

The decision comes despite weeks of protests from parents and students alike, all concerned the changes will negatively affect them. The board says with low enrollment numbers and aging school buildings, enlisting the kids in others schools will only benefit them.

"When schools become so small that we can’t put a sufficient number of teachers in front of students," Edmonton Public School Board Chair Don Fleming says, "It raises the questions are we providing quality of education we should be and look at consolidating populations."

About one-thousand children will be affected by the closures.