The future of St. Agatha Catholic Elementary School remains up in the air – but its northern neighbour, St. Clement Catholic Elementary School, isn’t at risk of closure anytime soon.
An ongoing accommodation review looking at St. Agatha and schools in Waterloo’s west end didn’t include St. Clement – but saying closing both St. Agatha and St. Clement could strengthen their case to build a new school in the area, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board had lobbied the province to consider including St. Clement.
Ministry of Education approval was received last week, but a number of parents spoke against closing St. Clement at a Monday night trustees’ meeting.
As a result of that feedback, trustees decided not to add St. Clement to the accommodation review.
“We will not pursue … the changing of those terms of reference. St. Clements will not be included in the (review),” trustee Peter Reitmeyer tells CTV News.
Despite Monday’s reprieve, St. Clement isn’t safe forever – it could be considered for closure in the future, and school board officials say it needs $4 million in renovations to be brought up-to-date.
Recommendations from the committee handling the accommodation review – which could include closing St. Agatha – are expected in June.
