The future of two elementary schools in rural New Brunswick has been decided, after months of parents and community members rallying to keep them open.
The District Education Council voted in favour of keeping Norton Elementary School open but voted in favour of closing Browns Flat at a meeting Wednesday evening.
Norton and Browns Flat weren’t the only two schools facing the chopping block; others schools in the province with fewer than 100 students have undergone a sustainability study.
Two schools on the list – Riverside Consolidated and Dorchester Consolidated – exceed 100 students but have seen a drop in their numbers by more than a third. However, a vote was held and both schools will remain open for now.
“The fact that the two West District DECs voted to keep Dorchester and Riverside open is a glimmer of hope for us that the DEC is going to stand up and say to the government that we need to make sure we’re making the right decisions, not just the easy decisions,” says parent Tracie Kennedy.
New Brunswick Education Minister Serge Rousselle will have the final say on whether Browns Flat will close its doors for good.
