An elementary school in Nepean will be closing at the end of the school year after the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board voted narrowly to close Parkwood Hills Public School on Tuesday.
The chair of the board said the decision wasn't based solely on finances, but rather a combination of factors.
"This is a decision that doesn't come down to one decision: finances, or one group of students, or one group of parents. This is a decision that reflects our board-wide vision,” said Cathy Curry.
The decision to close the school, however, only passed by one vote, following various attempts to delay or divide the motion.
One school board trustee told CTV Ottawa the vote could have easily gone the other way.
"It was unfortunate that there was one trustee who couldn't be here because of a family emergency . . . but she was fully in support of the future of these schools. And if she was here, this would have failed in a six to six vote,” said trustee Mark Fisher.
About 400 students currently attending Parkwood Hills Public School will be split between two schools next September. The majority of students will enroll at Sir Winston Churchill Public School, located across the schoolyard. Others will go to nearby Meadowlands Public School.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Jonathan Rotondo