After two long nights of delegations and debate, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board trustees have voted to recommend the closure of Rideau High School.
The east-end school has been operating at 40% capacity in recent years, and the building is in need of major repairs.
At a Special Committee of the Whole meeting Thursday, it was recommended Rideau High be closed, and the students attending the school be transferred to Gloucester High School, effective September 2017. It came a day after dozens of delegations spoke to the Committee in defense of their high school.
Trustees also voted to extend any special one year supports, put in place to aid in the transition of Rideau High students to Gloucester High, to two years. The Board would provide support to Rideau High students by providing transportation to all students in the Rideau boundary, regardless of eligibility requirements.
Staff are also being directed to work with students and community partners to ensure Rideau High students who are First Nations, Métis or Inuit have a culturally friendly room at Gloucester High, similar to the Lodge at Rideau High School.
The OCDSB will make its final decisions about school closures in early March.