Bad news this week for the community of Wilkie, north east of Saskatoon. The Light of Christ School Division has voted to close St. George School.
Herb Sutton, Director of Education for the board, told CTV the decision was a tough one, but declining enrollments made the closure unavoidable.
"It's something we've talked about for a long time. We're down to 57 students this year in Kindergarten through grade nine, and only 19 students in kindergarten to grade five," said Sutton. "With not a lot of students, it's impossible to provide the type of programs we'd like."
Sutton says the board had been toying with the idea for a number of years.
"Wilkie is not a huge community. The board was holding on, hoping there would be a turnaround in the economy, particularly with oil and gas, and that the community would pick up again, but that's hasn't materialized," said Sutton. "It was a difficult decision for the board, it's disappointing."
The school board voted to close the school at the end of June, 2012. The school celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2008.
