‘Ottawa’ Hope Fades in Fight to Save Seven Ottawa Public Schools
Parents aren’t about to give up the fight, but the chance of saving seven Ottawa public schools slated for closure in the city’s west end looks slim.
At the last public meeting held this week, parents pleaded with officials at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board to retain neighbourhood schools where children walk to class and parents chat in the play yard.
“I’m really disappointed that community schools are not important to you,” said one parent, her voice breaking. Another warned of the “harmful effects of busing our children around and cramming as many of them into (one) school as we can.”
But on the information tables outside the auditorium at Woodroffe High School, stacks of reports contained the staff response to proposals from parents suggesting ways to keep half-empty neighbourhood schools open. Their conclusion? It’s just not feasible. It comes down to numbers.