After a review of South Dunedin schools, the Minister of Education Anne Tolley said yesterday Forbury would merge with Macandrew Intermediate to become one full primary school on the Macandrew school site from next year.
College Street School, Caversham School and Calton Hill School will also merge to be one full primary school on the Caversham School site from next year, with a second campus at the Calton Hill site, a decision which will be reviewed in two years.
Adrienne Crowther "just bawled" when she heard the news yesterday.
"I'm just a mixture of shitty as hell and upset for the kids," she said.
She travelled from Pine Hill to take her child and others to the South Dunedin school each day because the teachers were "the best".
"Why the hell won't they [the ministry] listen? How much more could we have done?"
The decision also created much confusion for the pupils.
Principal Janice Tofia said many asked questions about what would happen to the school's playground and their classrooms.
Delwyn Keith, who has two children at the school, said the school held "a lot of meaning" for the community.
"It's an awesome school and it's heartbreaking even imagining that I won't be able to come here."
She wanted to "be supportive" of the teachers and pupils and would move her children to the new school, though was unsure how they would cope.
Robyn Thomson, whose children and now grandchild attended Forbury, said "it's going to be sadly missed".
"It will be heartbreaking when it closes. A lot of work has been put into the school."
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei called the decision "disgraceful".
"[It] proves the minister had already determined her decision, making sure any consultation was a farce," she said.
She believed the decision would not have been made had the community's views been taken into account.
Labour's Dunedin South MP Clare Curran agreed and hoped the changes would not disadvantage the children's educational prospects.
"These schools cater for a significant and close-knit community, many of whom are on low incomes and rely heavily on public transport. Closing them will cause considerable hardship for numbers of families."
