Parents in Ottawa's core are generally in favour of a wholesale school switch in the face of changing area demographics.
A meeting was held Wednesday to discuss enrolment issues in seven public schools in the Glebe, Old Ottawa South and Centretown.
The recommendation from staff and community committees is to switch students and staff at the overcrowded First Avenue Public School with those at Mutchmor Public School, which has space to spare.
"It seems to be the long-term solution," said parent Sandra Derby. "It seems to be the solution most parents in the area are in favour of, so think it works for everybody."
The move would create more space for First Avenue's increasingly popular French Immersion program.
"Over time the number of parents who choose French Immersion has grown, the English program has become smaller," said Jennifer Mackenzie, chair of Ottawa's public school board. "That changes the balance of students."
Some parents said the move will be too disruptive, but they were in the minority at the meeting.
Kindergarten children from First Avenue were already transferred to Mutchmor earlier on in the year.
"I think it's the best way to balance enrollments within the neighbourhood," said Tim Hore.
"I think the parents and the children should be able to walk to school, and receive the programs they're really interested in," said Brenda Flight.
Parents said they hope the overcrowding issue can be worked out by the time full-day Kindergarten arrives in 2014; enrolment projections suggest all the schools in that area will be full by 2015.
The decision, affecting thousands of students, is ultimately up to the school board and is expected to come by the end of the year.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Claudia Cautillo
