Families rally outside EMSB schools threatened with closure

Leila Germile, a seven-year-old student at Gerald McShane Elementary School, is standing up against the Quebec government's threat to close her school.

"I don't like it because I don't want to change my school," she said.

"I get to be with my friends and I don't want to move to another school because then mommy has to drivefurther and further."

Germile was among a group of protesters who gatheredoutside the school inMontral-Nord this morning.

Gerald McShane is one of three schools run by the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) that may be taken over by the French system.

Last week, Education Minister Jean-Franois Robergeannounced a planto transfer Gerald McShane, as well as General Vanier Elementary andJohn Paul I Junior Hightothe localFrench board,the Commissionscolairede laPointe-de-l'le, to help with itsspace shortage.

"I feel for the 3,000 students who need a classroom in the next year, but what about our children?" said Lisa Germile, Leila's mom.

Francesca Pitruzzello, the chair of the governing board at Gerald McShane,told CBCNews it's not just adults who are upset.

"The kids want to keep our school," she said. "This is really a jewel in Montreal North."