Carman-area Graysville School to shut

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This article was published 04/08/2010 (5829 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There will be no classes at Graysville School when summer is over.

The Prairie Rose School Division was given the green light to close the school late last month, said new superintendent Bruce Wood.

"It just wasn’t feasible," Wood said of maintaining the school in the tiny community west of Carman.

The 90-year-old school has four classrooms, but last year one teacher taught 12 students in grades from kindergarten to 6 in a single classroom. The division projected eight students for September.

Wood said the division board met July 19 and made a formal request to the province to close the school. Education Minister Nancy Allan approved the request three days later, he said.

Wood said phone calls were made to the five families whose children were to attend classes at Graysville in the fall. He said they were disappointed but added he believes they understand it doesn’t make financial sense to keep the school open.

In addition to the teacher, the division also provided a music teacher, two part-time educational assistants and support staff.

Wood said the teaching staff will be re-assigned and the support staff will be recalled according to their collective agreements.

Wood, who replaces the retiring Fred Colvin, said the division reviewed the school’s status in 2007 when enrolment reached 36 students.

Wood said the future of the building is uncertain. The division will maintain it to ensure it remains structurally sound, adding it could be turned over to the province or to a group or agency in Graysville.

The Manitoba government has had a moratorium on school closures, but Allan has said school divisions can "consolidate" low-enrolment schools if the community is in favour.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca