Parents fighting to beat minister’s deadline and keep 150–year–old secondary school open

PARENTS are fighting to keep their local school open despite a one-week deadline from the Department of Education to prove it is viable.

Parents of pupils attending a 150-year-old secondary school in Kilkenny are scouting nine primary schools in their area for new recruits in the battle to save their school.

Education and Science Minster Noel Dempsey has given staff and parents at St Bridget's Secondary School in Goresbridge until Friday next to prove the case for the school to remain open. Otherwise, it will be phased out over the next two years.

The Brigidine order of nuns, which runs the 129-pupil, 11-teacher school, received notification from the Department of Education a fortnight ago that it would be closed over a phased two-year period due to falling class sizes.

However, parents are confident they can make their case even in such a short time frame. More than 300 houses are being built in the area, according to local TD and school board trustee, John McGuinness.

"We managed to persuade Minister Dempsey to save our city status when he was in Environment. We're equally hopeful here that we can save our school. A strong case will be made by the School Board of Management, Trustees and the action group.

"If we can show there is support in the community for the school and students to enrol at the school into the future, then he would have a fresh look at the situation."

A local action group, headed by Helen Maher, has printed up a questionnaire which is being distributed to nine primary schools in the region. They're exploring every avenue available and have promised to fight for their school.

"The time frame is limited but at the same time, we are prepared to do it. We have asked more people to come on board and help us get the information back," said Ms Maher.

"Parents are very positive. We are going to fight. The minister just can't close our school. We have a very good school. No other school in Ireland provides the education our children get. The bottom line now is that parents and the community will have to rally together. The ball is in our court now to prove to the minister that our school is viable," she said.

Since news broke that the school was threatened, the community has rallied together. "Now is the time to reverse the minister's decision, get better buildings and a wider range of subjects for the pupils at our school," said Ms Maher."