Published: Friday, 16th May, 2008 16:30
School merger plans slammed
By Lorraine Tinney
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SCHOOL SITE: Education bosses prefer Earnhill Primary to be the new site for the merged St Gabriel’s and Sacred Heart primaries.
Pic by: George Munro
PARENTS have slammed plans to merge two Greenock schools.
Education bosses want to amalgamate St Gabriel’s and Sacred Heart primaries because both buildings need major refurbishment and have plummeting school rolls.
St Gabriel’s is only three-quarters full, while Sacred Heart is more than half empty and the rolls are unlikely to rise over the next eight years.
Council officials are recommending both sets of pupils go to a refurbished school at the Earnhill Primary site in Chester Road despite massive opposition.
In total, 210 people responded to a consultation over the future of St Gabriel’s in Braeside Road and Sacred Heart in Westmorland Road.
And of those who replied, 188 parents from St Gabriel’s wanted the new merged school to be in their building — while the other 22 from Sacred Heart said their school should be refurbished to cater for both sets of pupils.
In a report to councillors, education director Ian Fraser recommends councillors back the Earnhill plan because it would avoid disrupting pupils by decanting them into temporary accommodation.
Mr Fraser’s report also states: “St Gabriel’s is only half the required size of the amalgamated school and would need an extension the same size as the existing building.
This would be more expensive than the refurbishment of either Earnhill or Sacred Heart primaries.
“In addition, there would be the need to decant the school to Earnhill Primary for the duration of the work.
“The decant costs would be £90,000 and there would also be pupil transport costs in the region of £120,000.”
The matter will be discussed at the education committee next Thursday.
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