Concerned parents plead to keep Rideau High School open

Some parents whose children attend Rideau High School are speaking against an Ottawa-Carleton District School Board plan that would close the school by September of next year and move students to Gloucester High School.

The school has been a perfect fit for his daughter's high school education, Monjur Chowdhury said at a public consultation the board held Tuesday night.

"There is a huge multicultural community... We need a school like Rideau High School," Chowdhurysaid.

Parents speak out against closure

Several parents, including Chowdhury, arguedstudents would suffer from the disruption of changing schools, especially thelarge population of new immigrants.

The closure would have a negative impact on the entire community, said former Overbrook Community Association president Sheila Perry, since Rideau serves as a local hubfor immigrants, indigenous groups and young children who attendpre-school at the facility.

Rideau High School is an example of what a community high school should be.- Sheila Perry, former president of the OverbrookCommunity Association

"Rideau High School is an example of what a community high schoolshould be," Perry said.

"This is something the province and the boards are trying to promote, which is real outreach and inclusiveness."

Board promises improved access to programming

The board's superintendent of instruction saidtransferringstudents to Gloucester would create a more vibrant atmospheresince resources could be focused onone facility.

"You increase their access to a number of programs and provide them with more opportunities to move forward," Brett Reynolds told the audience.

"There are significant advantages in terms of opportunity where there are more students congregated in a school."

The board is in the midst of a comprehensive review meant to address shifting student enrolment and 11,500 "empty pupil places."

Almost 1,000 of those spaces would be saved by sending the 400 students enrolledat Rideau High School to Gloucester, which currently has665 students.

Right now both schools are at 40 per cent capacity.

Rideau is the only school in Ottawa's east endproposedto be closed next year.

The board held a similar consultation in the city's west end last week, where seven schools are being considered for closure.

A final decision is expected in March.