Students at Petite Reviere and Pentz Elementary schools are staying put.
South Shore Regional School Board Superintendent Scott Milner was at a meeting at Pentz last night to announce they would not appeal after a judge overturned the board’s motion to close both schools.
Chair of the Greater Petite Area Community Association, Stacey Godsoe says they were determined to see their school remain open.
“We were not going to let others in positions of power define our fate. It was just not going to happen. Despite all the stress and difficulties, it’s been a wonderful gift as a by-product of all this, to see our community come together.”
Godsoe says they’re also grateful for the efforts made by the staff at the school to maintain a positive learning environment for the children throughout this process.
She hopes their efforts to keep their school open will help other small communities keep their local school.
“We’re hopeful that the case, now that’s it’s part of the record, can be a precedent setting case as part of case-law going forward for future small schools struggling.”
Godsoe says the keys to their success was a united effort, strategy and keeping the dialogue respectful throughout.
