BRSD votes to close Holden School, consolidates Grades K through 9 at Ryley
Battle River School Division (BRSD) board trustees voted on Thursday, March 19 on three motions for closure; affecting Round Hill School, Ryley and Holden Schools, and Allan Johnstone School.
The final result of the vote was for Round Hill School to remain open; for Ryley and Holden to consolidate into one school with Grades K through 9, closing the High School, and moving everything into the Ryley site, closing Holden School; and for Allan Johnstone School in Hardisty to close, effective June 30.
Since the division office was closed to the public due to the pandemic, the meeting was streamed live via YouTube.
Beaver County Reeve Jim Kallal says, “As you can imagine, Beaver County Council was disappointed with the decision of the School closure in Holden and the consolidation with Ryley.”
Trustees had an opportunity to speak briefly prior to each vote, some chose to address each decision separately, while others indicated a desire to speak once to all three votes.
Beaver East trustee Zsuzsanna Hempberger spoke before the Round Hill vote. She thanked the public for all the presentations submitted to the board, and division staff for all their work, as well as her fellow trustees.
“These are hard decisions; we all have lost sleep over them.”
She implored parents, students, and communities to believe in the division, and to keep their children in BRSD schools.
“I ask you to trust us; to have faith in local teachers and their abilities in being able to handle what comes next, and I’m asking you to do the same.” . . . contd.
