It wasn't going to be a popular decision whichever way it went, but Thames Valley District School Board trustees backed away from deciding the fate of Lorne Avenue Public School on Tuesday night.
Despite several arguments in his favour, trustee Peter Jaffe's motion to save the school failed on a 6-7 vote.
The board instead voted to defer a decision on closing the school until November.
Scott Maclean, of the group Save Lorne Ave, says “It’s frustrating but it’s also positive. It still gives us more time and it gives trustees more time to contemplate what’s going on.”
He adds that parents and board members who hope to keep the school open will not be slowing down over the summer break.
The board also decided to close Sir George Ross Secondary School, but keep Thames Secondary School open as a vocational school.
That means the vocational program will continue, but will now be centered in a single location, with 180 Ross students expected to move to Thames in the fall.
The decision to keep the program running drew cheers from a surprised gallery where parents had been expecting the worst – the closure of both vocational schools.
Jill Ellis-Worthington, a member of the school council at Thames, says “After the meeting was a time of celebration, time to take a breath because it’s been a very long road.”
Ross students are sad to see their school go, but at least they will still be able to get extra attention, and not have to attend much larger high schools in the region.
“Keeping a small school setting is very important, and there needed to be a viable vocational option,” Ellis-Worthington says.
