St George's junior school to survive

St George's junior school has been saved.
Concerned parents of Year 1 to Year 4 students met with the Wanganui Collegiate board on Thursday night and have won their case for the junior school to be moved across to the Collegiate campus next year.
The board had announced that due to the economic downturn there being fewer primary-aged children living in Wanganui, the St George's campus would close.
Their plan was to house Years 7 to 8 at the Collegiate campus. Years 1 to 4 would close and Year 5 to 6 students would be offered an alternative for one to two years.
Headmaster Tim Wilbur said the 30 per cent drop in primary school age numbers combined with the harsh economic climate had made it too difficult to provide and maintain a quality independent education service.
But some parents were up in arms because they had not had any warning of the decision and they hadn't been consulted.
Wanganui dentist Adam Durning said he would pack up his family and leave Wanganui if the Collegiate board went ahead and closed the St George's campus.
"And I'm certainly not the only parent that feels like this," he said.
But Thursday night's meeting between the parents and the board convinced the board to take all of St George's students across to the Collegiate campus - not just selected years.
Speaking from Sydney on Friday, Dr Durning said it was the best outcome.
"It makes sense to have all the students on one campus. It is a good solution for everyone and I'm extremely pleased."
However, this was not the first time St George's had faced such an upheaval with closure of the school threatened because of financial problems.
In 1980, when the school was a boys-only boarding school, the board decided it was not feasible financially to keep St George's running.
But parents banded together to form a protest committee and saved the school from closing.
Heading that committee was Anne Petherick.
Mrs Petherick said their mission was to keep the school open.
"So we decided the best way to do this was close down the boarding school and open the school up to girls as well."
Dozens of parents helped to cut costs by doing maintenance, including the gardens and swimming pool, she said.
"It's such a wonderful school we were determined to save it."
Parent and member of that committee Bruce Harrison said all the parents were part of the regular working bees at the school.
"There's something very special about this school and I'm so pleased the day has been saved again."
Board member at that time Sandy Dobbin said he has sympathised with the Collegiate board over the past week.
"But with the roll dropping, which was what we had as well, there's no other option."
The 1980 board had organised consultation with the parents though, he said.