Parents in one New Brunswick community are both distraught and determined in the wake of a recommendation to close their school.

The fate of Browns Flat Elementary is now in the hands of the province’s Education minister. The community is not giving up efforts to save the school.

The Marr family lives in a rural area about 15 minutes away from Browns Flat. That’s where their children, including six-year-old Ryden, attend school.

Ryden has autism, and his mother Melanie said she couldn’t be happier with the education he’s getting at the local school.

“His overall care, I just never have to worry about it,” she said.

But the family is worried now that Browns Flat Elementary has been targeted for possible closure. That would mean a much longer bus ride to Grand Bay-Westfield for Ryden and his classmates.

“The kids are going to be getting on the bus when it’s dark out in the wintertime,” Melanie said. “And then it’s going to be an hour’s drive one way, and for Ryden, he’s never going to be able to manage.”

In an effort to cut costs, the New Brunswick government has ordered sustainability reviews of all low-enrolment schools. Most are located in rural areas, where student numbers have been experiencing a long-term decline.

“Many people in this community are hoping the minister of Education rejects the recommendation to close this school,” said local service district chairperson Sandra Speight. “Earlier this week, the minister approved a similar recommendation to close two other schools in the same district.”

Community leaders predict young families will move elsewhere, rather than settle in the area.

“Only the young people are building new homes and if there’s no school, why would they build if there’s no school?” Speight said.

The future of Browns Flat Elementary will be known within 60 days.

“In this day and age, we’re balancing the books, if you will, on the backs of our children,” said Ryden’s father Terry Marr. “It’s not fair to them and it’s not fair to the parents.”

The community is examining its options and some parents say they won’t rule out legal action should the government decide to close their school.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Mike Cameron