High Park, Newton schools to close

Almost 200 elementary students in Edmonton will be looking for new public schools after trustees voted Thursday night to close Newton and High Park elementary schools and the regular program at Mount Pleasant, due to declining enrolment.

But the Edmonton Public Schools board decided to keep Mill Creek School open because the student population is thriving, thanks to its popular Spanish program. As well, Mount Pleasant's Cogito program, which focuses on "the mastery of basic academic skills," will continue.

Kristin Morra has two children at Mill Creek and another on the way. As soon as she heard the news Thursday night, she picked up the phone to let her children know.

"Hi Jessica it's mom. Guess what? Mill Creek is staying open," she said. "Go tell your sisters, tell grandma. We're just thrilled."

'It's a very emotional process'

But not everyone shared Morra's excitement.

Donita Couto is dreading the thought of having to tell her son Ryan that Newton school will close.

"When I go home my son will be in bed. I have to wake him up in the morning and serve him breakfast and explain to him over breakfast that in September he doesn't get to go to school with his friends."

Most of the other parents felt like Couto.

Board chair Bev Esslinger said closing schools isn't any easy decision for the board.

"It's a very emotional process and you heard their passion in people's hearts and that makes it a little bit challenging.But at the end of the day you have to make the best decision for the students that you can."

The public school board began a review of 10 schools in October for possible closure, based on criteria such as enrolment levels, neighbourhood demographics, use of space and how many other schools are nearby. They narrowed the list down to four:Newton,High Park and Mill Creek schools and the regular program at Mount Pleasant.