Community stands up for Ottawa schools threatened with closure

Ottawa residents crowded into an auditorium at Rideau High School Tuesday night to have their say in the possible closure of some Ottawa schools.

Around 400 community members attended the final public meeting of the Accommodation Review Committee, a group of parents and school officials that is trying to figure out how to deal with a declining enrollment in Ottawa's east end.

The committee was set up by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board in May to make recommendations about boundary changes, program changes, grade structures or school closures.

So far, the committee has identified three schools — Rideau, Gloucester and Colonel By high schools — for possible closure.

Erin Lepine, who lives two doors from Colonel By, said she came to the meeting with the hope that Colonel By will still be around when her three young sons are old enough to go to high school.

"We bought in the neighbourhood hoping that our kids would actually go to Colonel By," said Lepine. "They knew we were coming to this meeting tonight, and they all said 'Mommy save our school.' "

Students who already attend the schools identified for possible closure competed for attention at the meeting.

Some of the parents who took turns speaking at the meeting said they thought their situation was unfortunate because the schools and neighbourhoods shouldn't be pitted against each other.

The review committee has said it will accept public feedback until May 8.

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has said it will look at the committee and community recommendations when it makes its final decision in December.