After more than nine months of speculation, the Department of Education has confirmed Collingullie Public School will not operate in 2018.
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A Department of Education spokesperson told The Daily Advertiser on Friday morning that as there were no enrolments for the upcoming year, the school was now in recess.
“This will enable further consideration of the future of the school in addition to previous community consultation,” a spokesperson said.
“Consideration will also take into account local demographic trends, the emergence of any prospective local enrolments, available transport and alternative schools.”
Reports of just four students in attendance were revealed by The Daily Advertiser in April, with the school in serious danger of closing its doors.
In November, the Department of Education confirmed the school was under review.
A Collingullie resident of 23 years, Margaret Marr, said it was a shame to see the school cease operation.
“It wasn’t really a surprise because the enrolments unfortunately just aren't there at the moment,” she said.
“I don’t know whether we as the older residents are guilty in a way for not leaving the space for the younger ones to come in.”
Ms Marr said she had high hopes that new families could move to the area in future and the school could return to its former glory.
“My concern was that it was a real part of our history but there was basically no children going there,” she said.
“I’m disappointed and would love it to continue, it’s a lovely quiet little village but life goes on.
“You like there to be people from all age groups in a community and it was nice having the kids around.”
While the Department of Education would not reveal the amount of people currently employed at the school, a spokesperson confirmed the staff would be reassigned.
Earlier, a The Daily Advertiser poll asked readers whether Collingullie Public School should remain open. Of the 196 voters, 71 per cent voted the school should remain operational.