The Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board hopes parents in its riverside family of schools are satisfied, following a public meeting at FJ Brennan high school.

Director Paul Picard says their plan to turn Brennan into a Grade 7-12 school is the best thing that can happen for students at St. Jules, St. John-Vianney, St. Rose and St. Maria Goretti. “If you are a Grade 7 or 8 student in particular and you’re in an elementary school, you can’t get access to high-end athletic activities, you can’t get access to technical education, you can’t get access to dramatic arts, visual arts, digital arts.” Picard adds that all amalgamated seven and eight students will be kept separated from the high school students at Brennan, as their part of the school will be known as Corpus Christi Middle School.

Parent Steven Moro is still unsure about the board’s plan. “I think the concern is around the timing of this. Being on the (ARC) committee, we recommended a two-year transition period. Even a one-year transition period would allow the kids to adjust, figure it out, get ready for this. What the board is recommending is, ‘let’s make a decision on May 27 and just start this September.'”

If the recommendations get approved, St. Maria Goretti will close in September, with its remaining JK-6 students being split between St. Rose and St. John Vianney. Grade 7 and 8 students at St. Bernard and Our Lady of Lourdes will also have the option of attending Brennan next school year.

The board will now take information from the public meeting and make a final recommendation on May 27.