Keith and Cullen Councillor slams decision to mothball Crossroads Primary School
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A COUNCILLOR for Keith and Cullen has slammed a decision to mothball a local school next year.
Councillors agreed on September 28 to mothball Crossroads Primary School at a meeting of Moray Council's Education, Children's and Leisure Services Committee.
The school is set to be mothballed on January 9 next year but Cllr Theresa Coull has expressed her disappointment over the decision.
"We know from experience that when a school is mothballed, it rarely opens again," she said.
"This is another blow to rural communities. The latest school report indicated that staff, parents and children are positive and proud of their school.
"Not having a school will make the area unattractive to young families.
"I am very concerned about the children’s well-being, having to move school during the school year.
"I am also worried about their safety, as they will be travelling to Rothiemay Primary School on snowy roads in the middle of the winter."
Cllr Coull added that she found it "shocking" that her fellow ward councillors, Donald Gatt and Tracy Colyer alongside all the Conservative and Labour councillors, voted to mothball the school.
However, Cllr Colyer insisted the decision to mothball the school was "not taken lightly" and added that it was "financially prudent" to do so.
"It is very regrettable when any community school must be closed," she said.
"The decision was not taken lightly but with the ever-decreasing school role, 10 children across all years, P1 - 2 children, P2 – 0 children, P3 – 1 child, P4 – 3 children, P5 – 2 children, P6 – 1 child, and P7 - 1 child, it was financially prudent and culturally beneficial for the children to call time on Crossroads School.
"Children need children of their own age with whom they can play and compete to enhance their lives. The fact is children need their peers for life enrichment.
"The term ‘mothballing’ is demeaning and a distressing terminology but comes from the SNP government, so we have very little say in their jargon.
"It is also unfortunate that the news was not made public immediately after decision but again out of the councils control as we had to follow Electoral Commision by-election guidelines."
The decision to mothball the school will be reviewed in April 2023 and an update will be provided to the Education, Children’s and Leisure Service Committee.
