Rideau High School will close

Impassioned speeches from a senator and a former Ottawa city councillor weren't enough to sway school board trustees, who voted 7-5 Tuesday night in favour of closing Rideau High School.

Senator Vern White, the former chief of Ottawa police, urgedOttawa-Carleton District School Board trustees to keep the high school open, arguing in his written delegation that while closing the school might save money, "the long-term effect will be much more costly to this community and the families that live here."

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"For many of these kids, giving them a Presto pass and thinking a 10 kilometrebus ride [to Gloucester High School]is the same is naive on our part," White saidbefore the meeting began.

"We cannot afford to close that school."

The senator went further, calling it unfair forthe board to be faced with deciding to closethe school in the first place.

"If the province owns this, let them own it, let them make that decision. They're the ones not coming up with the money. Let them own the decision to take away what that community has going for it," he said.

'I will vote with the staff recommendation'

Trustee Donna Blackburn wasn't moved by the senator's remarks, and said despite what she called a well organized political campaign to keep Rideau open, she couldn't support that option.

"I heard from a former cop, without a background in education, and I've heard from lots of people, but I have not heard for any compelling reason to change my vote, so I will vote with the staff recommendation," she said.

The meeting lasted three and a half hours. About 100 people attended, including about 20 Syrian refugees living atnearby 1240 Donald St., anapartment buildinginside the school's catchmentarea.

The board has blamed the situation on low enrolment atRideau High School, located on St. Laurent Boulevard at Guy Street.Its closure willsend about 400 students to Gloucester High School, which, like Rideau High School, is also operating atabout 40 per cent capacity.

Delegations from Gloucester, including the current student council president, made presentations meant to reassure and welcomeRideauHighstudents worried about losing theirschool.

'This is bad'

Former city councillor Jacques Legendrewas another of the 15 registered delegates given one minute to make an argument about the decision.

The former physicist and politician spoke in opposition of the plan to close the high school, as he did seven years ago when the school board was again mullingits closure.This is the second time in the past decadeRideauHigh School has beenon the chopping block.

Legendre accused the trustees of selecting Rideau for closure because of the land'shigh value.

"We have trustees who, frankly, like to think of themselves as developers," he said.

"This is bad. This is really bad."

Low-income neighbourhood

Rideau serves a low-income neighbourhood that includes a growing population of Indigenous families and Syrian refugees, the area's trustee, Chris Ellis, had previously told CBC News.

The school hasreceived additional provincial funding over the years to help those students, and Ellis has said the board shouldn't be taking resources away from those who need themmost.

Trustees voting in favour of closing Rideau were Lynn Scott, Donna Blackburn, Theresa Kavanagh, Mark Fisher, Keith Penny, Sandra Schwartzand Shirley Seward. Opposed were ChristineBoothby, Anita Olsen Harper,Chris Ellis, Shawn MenardandErica Braunovan.

In February,school trustees recommended keeping Regina Street Public School open as an alternative school, but closingsixother elementary schools:

• Century Public School.
• Leslie Park Public School.
• D. Aubrey Moodie Intermediate School.
• GreenbankMiddle School.
• Grant Alternative School.
• J.H. PutmanSchool.

Trustees also voted to direct school board staff to explore the possibility of a school name change for Gloucester High School, when its student body becomes an amalgamation of Gloucester and Rideau students.