NDG vows to keep Royal Vale School

Councillors in Montreal's Cte-des-Neiges/Notre-Dame de Grce borough voted unanimously to oppose a proposal from the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) to move Royal Vale High School to the former Wagar High School in Cte Saint-Luc.

"We're simply asking the school board to change their minds and not do this," Loyola Coun. Susan Clarke said. "Don't break something that's really working well."

Councillors and parents from Cte St-Luc are in favour of the proposed move, but parents in NDG packed the borough council meeting to hear councillors express their opposition to the plan.

The proposed scenario only applies to Royal Vale's high school students; the elementary sector would remain in the school's current building on Somerled Ave. in NDG.

The plan is one of the EMSB's proposals to close, merge or relocate a handful of schools. The board says with declining enrolment, it needs to shut down a few locations.

Coun. Peter McQueen said Royal Vale belongs in NDG, and that it doesn't make sense to move Royal Vale High School.

"It's just not as good a location in Cte St-Luc, it's only served by one or two bus lines."

"I know that they are backing us," said parent Joanne Adler, adding she was delighted the borough was taking a stand against the school board.

The motion against the move sends a stong message to the EMSB, but the decision is not up to city councillors.

The school board will hold consultations on the plan in December, and a final decision is expected in January.