Holden expresses anger as school set for closure – Ryley School to operate as K-9
Holden parents expressed anger after hearing at a meeting Monday night that the school board is proposing the closure of their elementary school.
The meeting was fairly calm until Battle River School Division’s Director of Facilities Percy Roberts discussed utilization rates at the schools in Holden and Ryley.
Ryley could hold 313 students but is only utilizing 35 per cent of that capacity with 108 students currently enrolled.
Holden has a net capacity for 585 students but with only 265 students, it’s only using 45 per cent of its capacity.
Roberts said the schools “are both well maintained, based on building condition, facility reports and resources available along with the programming needs of students.”
But the announcement that the school at Holden was the one BRSD recommended to close drew an audible gasp: “It is our recommendation that, if Holden and Ryley schools are consolidated into one K-9 (kindergarten to Grade 9) school site, the site selected would be Ryley School,” he said. Roberts then said anyone with a question could write it down on a slip of paper to be answered later, but it was obvious people wanted more direct communication. . . . contd.
