The board voted to close it but Chaplin School will stay open next year as Saskatchewan’s first School of Opportunity.
The designation was established in 2008 to make sure that potential economic growth in a region is considered before schools are closed.
Education minister Ken Krawetz approved the designation for Chaplin as a Kindergarten to Grade 8 school in the Prairie South school division. High school students will go to Gravelbourg, Central Butte or Mortlach beginning next fall.
Krawetz turned down a similar application from nearby Morse, located in the Chinook school division.
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In April, the Chinook board voted 9-1 in favour of closing Morse and moving the students to Herbert. The school is in poor condition and, according to a board newsletter, repairs would cost between $1.2 and $2.8 million.
“Allowing students to continue beyond the end of this school year may present a concern for their health and safety,” Krawetz said.
Analysis of Chaplin and its school presented a different picture.
“Chaplin has the potential for economic growth based on its strategic positioning and the plans of its current industries,” Krawetz said.
The two main industries are Saskatchewan Minerals, a sodium sulphate operation that plans to expand and develop sodium bicarbonate production for use in clean coal technology, and Chaplin Grain, an organic facility.
Prairie South gave notice two years ago that enrolment at Chaplin was not sufficient to keep the school open and it intended to close it July 15, 2009. An application to designate a school can only be considered after a final motion to close is made.
Community representatives must then present a plan showing how increased economic development in the area will result in more students in the school within 20 months.
To be considered viable, Chaplin will require an enrolment of 51 students within three years. If that number is not achieved, the board’s motion to close the school will stand.
There were about 45 students in the school this year.
