Trustees with the Bluewater District School Board have voted to proceed with accommodation reviews.
That's despite objections from parents, especially in the Paisley and Markdale areas.
Due to declining enrolment, Paisley Central and Beavercrest School in Markdale are recommended for closure in the initial staff report. An attempt to delay the process was turned down by a majority of board trustees.
Chris Wren has a child at Beavercrest School. He was among a group of about 30 people at the board meeting objecting to the reviews and says it's all happening too fast.
"It's caught everybody off guard including the staff at the school, the teachers, everybody," says Wren.
Grey Highlands Councillor Terry Mokry says the Bluewater Board is mistaken in following provincial policy to the letter.
"One of the things the province has done they have removed the ability for a community to speak about the effects of closing a school to community economic development, social life and the future of the community," says Mokry.
Beavercrest could close in next June and Paisley Central in June 2018.
Grey Highlands council had asked to speak to the issue as a delegation at the board meeting but were turned down.
Director of Education Steve Blake says the time for public input is during the accommodation review process. And that's what happens next.
Letters will go out to upper and lower tier representatives from both accommodation review areas to meet with board officials in October to discuss the situation. Then accommodation review committees will be formed and public meetings held.
That's followed in the new year by another report with recommendations to Bluewater board trustees.
A final decision is to come next spring.
