Two schools in Windsor are likely closing their doors.
Trustees with the Greater Essex County District School Board passed a motion during a short public meeting on Thursday, to close Eastwood and Parkview public schools in the city's Forest Glade area, pending approval from the Ministry of Education.
Community meetings were held earlier this spring to explain the plan to parents and students, and board chairperson Kim McKinley says support has been practically universal.
"There might have been concerns about programs that would still be in the new school, but I wasn't seeing any opposition," says McKinley.
The board will be submitting a business case to the ministry for a new Kindergarten to Grade 8 school in east Windsor, which will consolidate the two other schools. The new building would accommodate 535 students and could open in September 2020. The board is looking for a $13-million capital investment from the province to fund the plan. McKinley says the new school will not be an open concept.
A motion was also passed during the meeting to alter the boundaries of Forest Glade Public School starting this September. Students living north of EC Row, south of Wildwood Dr., east of Pineview Cres. and west of Soulliere Dr., will become part of the Parkview Public School boundary. McKinley says, however, that students will stay put, at least for now.
"Those students, I believe, will be staying in the schools they're currently in, and then the boundary would change upon a new school because obviously those boundaries would encompass both of those school communities," says McKinley.
Any students currently at Forest Glade will be allowed to remain, but will not have access to transportation to and from school.
-With files from Adelle Loiselle and Mark Brown
