COBDEN—Whitewater Region Mayor Hal Johnson made a plea prior to the start of last night’s committee in council meeting, encouraging residents to support the residents who are rallying in Westmeath to keep Westmeath Public School open.
“This is disheartening news,” he said of the impending closure. “If you take the school out of the community, you take the heart away.
“The health of a community is education, health and income. If you remove the education, it causes a lot of trouble with health and income.”
While the closure has not been officially announced, a review by the Renfrew County District School of Westmeath Public School has been announced, Mayor Johnson noted.
The residents have organized SOS (Save Our School) and are bringing a case to the school board to keep the school open, he said.
“They are looking for support,” he said. “We almost lost Opeongo High School last year. If we don’t keep pushing, we’ll lose more schools.”
It’s difficult to work on economic development when schools are closing, the mayor said.
Westmeath Public School is 110 years old and gorgeous, he said.
“I’m asking if you can support Westmeath School,” Mayor Johnson said. “It’s a part of Whitewater Region.”
“We don’t want to lose it.”
