Parents at St. Ambroise elementary school in St. Joachim are feeling rushed.
That was the common concern at a public meeting hosted by the French Catholic School Board Tuesday night.
The board is proposing closing the school at the end of this school year due to low enrollment numbers, but parents are saying there needs to be more consultation and other options considered before a final decision is made.
Parent, Mirella Allison, says combining older, smaller schools in the area into a single larger, new school should be investigated.
"I think it's doable. Instead of investing money to repair a school that's older, I think it's OK to have a plan to possibly build a school to house three existing schools so that we can start to move into the future with a school that will last for the next 50 years."
Parents speak out about potential closure of St. Ambroise elementary in St. Joachim (Photo by AM800's Zander Broeckel)
Mike Hart went to St. Ambroise and now has two children who go there.
He says parents are feeling ambushed.
"They just kind of threw this together, a last minute deal and it's kind of being forced down our throats. I attended the school. It's a small community. I'm 30-years-old now and I still speak with 12 students that I went to school with, but you can only do what you can do and I'm hoping, stay positive."
Alicia Tymec has two children who attend the school and says parents want the board to slow down.
"I think the trustees who are here heard loud and clear that the community would like this process to be slowed down and for further involvement. I'm hopeful that they heard those comments and that they'll take them into consideration in their future decision making.
Parents speak out about potential closure of St. Ambroise elementary in St. Joachim (Photo by AM800's Zander Broeckel)
St. Ambroise has been under 60% capacity since the 2010-2011 school year.
It's estimated the school needs $3.5-million in maintenance over the next five years to keep it up to Ministry standards.
The board will present its report on the potential closure on December 2, another public meeting is planned for January 16 with a final decision expected to be made on February 13.
If the school closes, the majority of its students will go to St. Paul elementary in Stoney Point with a smaller number going to Pavillons des Jeunes in Belle River.