Milne's High School saved
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MILNE’S High has been saved and a five year reprieve given to another 30 primaries.
Members at today’s meeting top discuss Moray Council’s Sustainable Education review pledged not to close any secondary school and placed a moratorium on 29 rural schools and Portessie Primary, which had been included in a recommendation to for a merged costal school.
Finding a solution to overcrowding in Elgin schools is now a priority.
New Elgin Primary has a roll of over 500 children, more then Milne’s High, Speyside High or Keith Grammar.
Petitions with thousands of signatures against school closures were handed in to the council just before this morning’s meeting.
Representatives from the Save Milne’s High group were joined by supporters from Botriphnie, Crossroads, Craigellachie and Portgordon primaries ahead of the local authority’s meeting to discuss the findings of the Sustainable Economic Review.
More than 100 people marched from Cooper Park to council head quarters where petitions were handed to local councillors.
In excess of 5,000 put their names to the campaign to save the Fochabers secondary, with 2,000 on the Crossroads petition, 1,000 for Portgordon and 500 from Botriphine.
The report - which was to focus on educational needs and not cost - recommended the closure or merger of 16 schools.
During this morning’s debate in the council chamber, it only took 14 minutes before it was mentioned that education took up around half of the local authority’s budget.
Communities that banded together to suppport their schools were commended.
