The Grant Alternative School council is applauding last weekıs decision by a committee of public board trustees to keep the school open for another year.

However, council chair Shelly Rivier said only four of eight trustees supported the move - intended to give board staff more time to find other accommodations for Grant students - leaving her uncertain about how the board as a whole will vote when the item comes before them April 24.

The board undertook a study of Grant last fall to determine the cost of repairing its aging building and options for re-locating students.  Staff have named several other local schools as potential sites for the alternative program, including J.H. Putman, Regina Street and Severn Avenue.

Ms. Rivier noted that board staff want to see up to $600,000 spent to keep the Grant building habitable and deal with ongoing leakage and mould problems in the building.

"There was quite a bit if discussion about that; concerns about spending that much money," she said. "Of course, as parents we donıt think $600,000 is outrageous considering that it has received very little in the way of any kind of refurbishment to bring it up to a level that is suitable."

Grant parents feel there isnıt sufficient room in any of the other schools being considered, Ms. Rivier said.  Though the board is projecting low future enrolment at Grant, she added, the spectre of closure makes that outcome a self-fulfilling prophecy.

"Thereıs a daycare at Severn, a daycare at Regina.  There isnıt any room to plop us in there.  We want our program to grow.  Theyıre estimating that weıll only have 120 kids next year.  The truth is, if you keep saying we're going to close youıre going to have 120.  If you give us a place with room for exactly 120 kids, that does us no good."

The report from board staff to the committee says a series of public consultation meetings determined that Grant parents would prefer not to move at all but would prefer a separate location to co-locating with another school if a move were unavoidable.

A likely prospect is St. Thomas Catholic School in Crystal Beach.  Though it is now vacant, it has not been officially listed as closed by the Catholic board.

"It is obvious that a broader study is required to look at accommodation issues in this part of the city," says the report.

Don Eberley, chair of the J.H. Putman council, made a presentation to the board earlier this year, saying introducing Grant students to that school would be problematic.

"We feel that Grant offers a worthwhile program," he said, "and should be given a permanent, dedicated location.  Unfortunately, it is difficult for us to accept the co-location of Grant with Putman.   The suggestion is strongly opposed by most parents and staff because of the likely impact it would have on student safety, accommodation and programs."