Education Minister Anne Tolley has this morning announced two options as a "starting point" for consultation on the proposal, which follows the Catholic Church's recent announcement it would close St Patrick's School in south Dunedin.
Option 1
- Merging Forbury School and Macandrew Intermediate School;
- Merging Caversham, College Street and Calton Hill Schools;
- and changing St Clair School to a Year 1-8 school.
Option 2
- Closing Macandrew Intermediate School;
- and merging Caversham, College Street and Calton Hill Schools.
Mrs Tolley said the six primary and intermediate schools in south Dunedin lost a fifth of their students over the last decade.
"I've met with local schools a number of times this year, and there has been a broad acceptance that changes need to be made, which is why there have been calls for the Ministry to lead and support any change process."
School boards and the community have until December 14 to provide feedback.The Ministry will then prepare a report for the Minister, following which there could be a second round of consultation on any specific proposals.
The aim is to implement changes from Term One in 2012.
