Education Minister Anne Tolley met South Dunedin school representatives at the Ministry of Education offices in Dunedin yesterday to announce it was likely Macandrew Intermediate and Forbury Schools would be merged as a years 1-8 primary school on the Macandrew site.
She also announced it was likely Caversham, College Street and Calton Hill Schools would be merged as a years 1-8 school on the Caversham site, with a campus on the Calton Hill site.
Her preliminary announcements follow "careful consideration" of a ministry report on the second round of consultation on the future of years 1-8 schooling in South Dunedin, and she believed changes must be made to strengthen education in the area.
"This reorganisation will ensure there is a sustainable network of quality schooling in the area to provide the best possible education for students."
The boards of affected schools now have 28 days in which to make additional comments, with a final decision to be announced early next month.
The changes will be implemented from term one next year.
While most Forbury School pupils remained oblivious to the announcement, principal Janice Tofia was notifying parents as they arrived to pick up their children yesterday afternoon.
Many were shocked and tearful at the news, she said.
"It smacks of failure all the way.
"I feel sad for the community because they appreciate what's happening for their children at this school," she said.
"The change process is a huge risk for the people who rely heavily on the support of this school for their children."
Board chairman David Yates said the board and staff would continue to make representations in the time available "to press our view that the assumptions and expectations used by the ministry in its recommendation are flawed and high risk".
"For the South Dunedin community, Forbury School provides proven and successful education and this decision leaves the community facing uncertainty for the future in local education."
Dunedin South Labour MP Clare Curran had serious concerns about the impact of the changes on Forbury School.
"I'm seeking an urgent meeting with the minister to discuss the issue.
"I would like to think she and the ministry are putting the importance of good education above the desire to rationalise property and raise revenue through the sale of school property.
"The long-term vision of good education opportunities for all the children of South Dunedin is more important than short-term cost savings."
While College Street School staff and parents were upset at the news for their school, board of trustees representative Sheralyn Weepers said many were resigned to the decision.
"Unlike Forbury School, we've had longer to get used to the idea.
All the options pointed to closure of our school, right from the start of this process."
She said Mrs Tolley had listened to the combined boards' request for a years 1-8 school, and the preliminary decision had given some clarity about where the schools were heading.
"Our board is currently exploring how the organisation for the split site school will look."
Macandrew Intermediate principal Whetu Cormick said the minister's decision would have been a very difficult one to make.
"Taking into account all of the feedback she received, she proposed that the Macandrew site will provide the educational benefits of a larger school.
"The minister believes the site has the potential for future growth and the ability to become the educational hub of the South Dunedin community."
Calton Hill School board of trustees chairman George Sealy had mixed feelings about the decision.
While he felt sympathy for Forbury and College Street Schools, he was delighted his school would remain open.
"The question for us now is how will we make this work. Everyone is keen just to get on with it now."
Caversham School could not be contacted yesterday.
Mrs Tolley said she would appoint a new board of trustees for each school, to be made up of a nominated representative from the present board of trustees from each merging school, a representative from the community and Ngai Tahu, as well as an educational expert.
"This is an opportunity to shape the best possible education for children in the area over the next 20 years," she said.
