The doors remain open at Big Tancook Island Elementary School.
The South Shore Regional School Board put forward a motion to close the school.
However, when it came time for decision, it was a tied vote; four to four.
Board Members Jennifer Naugler, Elliott Payzant, Tina Hennigar and Pat Garrison voted in favour of closing the school while Cheryl Fougere, Vernon Simms, Elizabeth Crossland and Theresa Griffin voted against the motion.
The tied vote means the motion was defeated and the school remains open.
Chair Jennifer Naugler says it wasn’t an easy decision for the board.
“The numbers might have indicated that this should have been an easy decision but board members expressed their feelings around it and were in support of keeping it open.”
The board was split.
Some members were concerned about small children taking the ferry from the island to and from the mainland for school.
Others felt students would miss the social interaction at a larger school.
Two students will attend Big Tancook Island Elementary this fall.
Meanwhile, island resident Hillary Dionne was in tears following the school board’s decision.
Dionne, overcome by emotion, says she’s relieved to see the school remain open.
“I’m just glad that it’s over. That all the sleepless nights and knots in the stomach can go away.”
Dionne praised the board, but adds, she doesn’t envy their job to make a decision.
