J.H. Putman Public School a step closer to closing

Parents are devastated that they'relosing abattle to save another public school from closing in the west end of Ottawa, despite months of lobbying.

It's a huge loss for the community.- Sarah Bickford, parent

Ottawa-Carleton District School Board trustees recommended Tuesday nightto close J.H. Putman Public School near Woodroofe Avenue and Highway 417.

It's the sixth school in west Ottawa that trustees voted to close after hearing the emotionalfinal pitches of parents to save their schools on Monday.

J.H. Putman parents were in disbelief over the decision, including Sarah Bickford,who wiped away tears afterward.

"It's a huge loss for the community," saidBickford, her daughter standing beside her.

"They're losing sight of the children and it's just dollars and seats.Those are kids. They love their school. I just feel bad that they're losing that."

'We have been fighting so hard'

About 50 parents came together and for the last five months lobbiedtokeep J.H. Putman open.

Parent GinaBiesdrafted an alternativesolution on behalf of the group that trustees considered, butultimately turned down.

"I'm really disappointed," said Bies."Right now my stomach is turning and I'm mad. I think I have to go through a grief process because we have been fighting so hard for this."

Biessaid she plans to keep fighting to keep the school open, but is alsoconsidering switching her son, who is in Grade 6, to another school board.

"I think that [school trustees]had their mind set in September what they were going to do and they put on a lot of window dressing to show we had the opportunity to give input," Bies said.

Sixth school so far slated to close

On Monday,school trustees recommended to keepRegina Street Public School open as an alternative school, but to close five other schools with low enrolment:

• Century Public School.
• Leslie Park Public School.
• D. Aubrey Moodie Intermediate School.
• GreenbankMiddle School.
• Grant Alternative School.

Shirley Seward, chair of the school board, saidno one wants to close schools, but the reality is that some are too empty and others are too overcrowded. The board istrying to balance those numbers at a time when it's under financial pressure.

OCDSBis losing $8 million in provincial funding over three years that was used to keep half-empty classes running.

The superintendent of the board's facilities, Mike Carson, saidfinances are not the only reason behind the closures, but that it'scheaper to have fewer buildings to look after.

"It'sa loteasier to look after one roof than two or three," saidCarson. "... It makesit more efficient to use some of our limited resources and it gives us a chance to reallocate some of our teaching staff to other buildings."

Fallout of possible J.H.Putmanclosure

If J.H. Putmancloses, it will also affect other schools:

• AgincourtRoad Public School would open a new intermediate wing andbecome aK toGrade 8school.
• WoodroffeAvenue Public School would become aJK to Grade8school.
• Severn Avenue Public School would become aJK to Grade6 structure for immersion students, eventually expanding up to Grade8.
• WoodroffeAvenue Public School's early French immersionboundary would be changedand current Severn AvenueEnglishstudentswouldattendPinecrest Public Schoolor D. Roy Kennedy Public School.

East-end delegationsare scheduled for Wednesday evening.

School board staff have recommended closingRideau High Schooland sending its 400 students toGloucesterHigh School. Both schools are at 40 per cent capacity.

The board is expected to make its final decisionabout school closuresat two meetings on March 1 and 7.