Trustees with the Bluewater District School Board have backtracked on a decision to give the Markdale community two years to ensure Beavercrest School stays open. Now it's just one year.
Trustees figure that way they have a better chance of getting a new school in Markdale.
Chapman's Ice Cream and a developer have promised $2-million each to go towards creating a community hub around a brand new school in Markdale. But trustees are worried a provincial election next year could interfere with those plans.
They believe they have a better chance for a new school with the current government.
Grey Highlands Mayor Paul McQueen says he has little choice but to believe what the board is doing will work.
"They seem to feel that putting it back to one year strategically is a good move. I hope they're right. I really hope they're right," says McQueen.
Jim Dawson, the trustee for the Markdale area, says he's confident the government will give the green light to a new school.
"I have a lot of confidence that our business plan will be approved by the ministry. It's a very solid plan. It's got a lot of municipal support, it's got a lot of corporate support, it's got a lot of support from the board so I'm confident that it'll go forward," says Dawson.
Bluewater Board trustees also finalized a committee of the whole decision related to Paisley Central School. The board has given the community until March 2019 to come up with funds to cover costs of capital repairs. If that goal is reached, Paisley Central stays open for another five years. If not, it closes in June 2019.
And the board finalized a decision that closes the Chesley Community School's grades nine to 12 program. As of this September students will go to other high schools in the Bluewater Board.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Mitzie Hunter is touring both Paisley Central and Beavercrest School Wednesday and meeting with officials.