There are new details in a proposal to keep an elementary school in Markdale.
At a public meeting Monday, Chapman's Ice Cream Vice President Ashley Chapman outlined a plan that would see both Beavercrest Community School in Markdale and Holland Chatsworth school close in 2020. Students would all go to a new school to be built in Markdale.
Chapman's Ice Cream would supply $2-million for the project as well as contribute $50,000 a year to maintain Beavercrest School in the meantime.
Ashley Chapman says without a school in Markdale, people may have to leave.
"We can't have that. We can't have the population of Markdale going down. We need skilled, unskilled, we need all types of employees and we need a school to attract them to this area," says Chapman.
Grey Highland's council has also committed $50,000 a year over four years to keep Beavercrest open.
Mayor Paul McQueen says the money could be found in their community development fund without having to raise taxes.
The Bluewater District School Board is considering closing Beavercrest because of declining enrolment and the cost of maintaining the current aging building.
The public meeting was part of the board's accommodation review process. Ten others besides Chapman made presentations, mostly in favour of keeping a school in Markdale.
However, some Holland Chatsworth School parents are not happy with the prospect of their school closing. Bluewater District School Board trustees are to make a decision on the future of area schools April.
