Parents rally against possible closure of Lively High

An announcement from the Rainbow District School Board that the school is under review for possible closure or consolidation has parents and students in Lively rallying to save their local high school.

On Sept 1., Norm Blaseg, education director for the RDSB, announced that a combination of declining enrolment and fewer dollars from the provincial government is forcingthe board to make a decision on 12 schools in the district.

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Lively District High School is on the list of possible closures.

Last night about 150 parents, students and community members gathered to discuss how they'll convince the board to keep the high school open.

Abby Carter, a Grade 12 student at Lively District High School, said that her time at the school has been special, and its small student population is a factor that contributesto its unique feel.

"You know everyone in the hall. You always say 'hi' to everyone you pass," Carter said, "everyone's always smiling. The grade ninesare best friends with the grade twelvesand you don't get that everywhere."

The community needs to work together to prove the school should stay open, said Stacy Paajanen, whose 15-year-old son attends Lively High.

"We know that the board needs to save money and we want to be able to pick everybody's brains to come up with ideas on how to do that," she said.

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A committee will be formed and a plan will be written up to present to the board, said Paajanen.

The Rainbow board hasn't made any decisions, and public meetings are planned.

A final decision is expected in January.