Schools in Dorchester, Riverside-Albert under review

People in Dorchester and Riverside-Albert are fighting to save their schools.

A review by the District Education Council in theAnglophone East School District is underway to determine the future of the two rural schools in southeastern New Brunswick because of low enrolment.

Dorchester Consolidated, a kindergarten to grade 8 school, currently has 66 students while Riverside Consolidated, a kindergarten to grade 5 school, has 45.

Jerome Bear, the mayor of Dorchester, says enrolmentis increasing at the local school and there are many young families in his area that depend on it.

"This is almost like the final nailin the coffin that would slowly turn Dorchester into a ghost town," Bear said.

KellyEdgett, chair of the Parent School Support Committee atRiverside-Albert Consolidated School, says busing students to HillsboroughElementary is unreasonable.

"We have like a kindergarten kid that will be starting next year. I did the bus trip myself he would be on the bus for an hour and a half each way. I don't know if anyone would put their kid that small on a bus for anhour and a half."

Bear says with several schools in Monctonalso below 50per cent capacity it might make more sense, and save more money, to close a school in the city.

"They're going to have to hire two more buses here in theDorchester area to bus the kids, then they're going to have to bus kids over in Riverside a long distance to go to school each dayis that really looking at the children? Not really."

Schools tied to business

According to education policy in New Brunswick, schools that are at or below 50 per cent capacity are reviewed by the District Education Council.

Schools in Bath andColesIsland are being recommended for closure by the district education council in Anglophone West, while the idea of consolidating Stanley High and Stanley Elementary is also being considered.

Anglophone South School District is considering the future of Browns Flat Elementary and Norton Elementary.

If schools are recommended for closure, there isa six-month period during which parents and others will be given at least three opportunities to talk about the prospect of closing the schools and challenge the decision.

Edgett says she is worried that is the road her community is heading down.

"We have the feeling that the end result will be closure because we are a small school and our cost per student isquite high," shesaid.

Bear says Dorchesteris starting to see an increase in local businesses and having a local school makes a difference.

"It is a good draw because of the quality of education they receive because it is a small schoolthey get more attention and their grades show it."

Edgett also worries that closing the school would be short-sighted with the Fundy Trail Parkwayexpected to be completed in 2018.

"If we don't have a school, who's going to move in and work these businessesthese people aren't going to move here if there's no school."