Parents buoyed by board's change of heart

People in Whitbourne and Heart's Delight-Islington are hoping the Eastern School District will reverse decisions to close their elementary schools.

In December, trustees voted to close Whitbourne Elementary and Epiphany Elementary at the end of this school year.

Parents have been petitioning them to reverse those decisions ever since.

And on Thursday, the board announced they would revisit the closures during a special public meeting in St. John's Monday night.

Denzil Sheppard, mayor of Heart's Delight-Islington, said the local school is still in good condition.

"The services that we offer in this municipality, and the school that's there now, they've done a lot of upgrading on it and the school is viable for a few more years," he said. "So we're hoping that they will make that decision based on the repairs and everything that's been done in the school."

Sheppard said the school can accommodate more students.

"We know we've got a smaller enrolment, but the problem right now is that the school's that [are] very close to us, we can bring them all together at Epiphany and make the school viable."

Vie Hickey's grandchildren attend Whitbourne Elementary. She said it would be a shame for the school to close, but believes it will be spared.

"Somehow I think it's going to remain open," Hickey said. "I really hope, anyway."