The 'Save SCITS' group is collecting names on a petition leading up to May 10 when the Lambton Kent District School Board is to decide the fate of the stately Wellington St. school.
Over 1,100 people had signed as of Tuesday morning according to spokesperson Kara Woolridge and she's hoping to collect hundreds more.
"We still have a week and a half at least to boost the numbers," says Woolridge." "The idea is to just let the trustees know how many people are in support of keeping SCITS open and who care about the building and care about what it has to offer."
Board administration is recommending the 1922 vintage school be closed with students being consolidated at St. Clair Secondary School in September 2017. St. Clair students would transfer to SCITS this September to allow for renovations at St. Clair.
Woolridge hopes the petition helps convince trustees to vote to keep SCITS open and close St. Clair.
She notes the grant the board is hoping to get from the province to add amenities like an auditorium at St. Clair may not come because they're in competition with other boards across Ontario for funding.
The SCITS group has distributed 600 Save SCITS signs, has spoken at accommodation review committee public meetings and has written hundreds of letters to committee members, board officials, the minister of education and media. Woolridge is on the agenda as one of several delegations when the school board meets in Sarnia Tuesday night. It's the last chance for public comment before trustees make a final decision. The May 10 meeting will be held at Alexander Mackenize Secondary School.
A link to the petition can be found HERE.
-With files from Dave Dentinger