Cessnock Council will write to Education Minister Adrian Piccoli and opposition spokesperson for Education, Ryan Park, in an effort to keep the building used for Wollombi School in public hands.
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On November 11 the Department of Education announced that the 162-year-old school would be closed at the conclusion of the current school year.
The announcement came almost a year to the day since the department first began a consultation process with the school of five.
Council will now seek a commitment from each of the representatives on behalf of their respective political parties, that the school will be retained in public ownership in perpetuity for use by the community and at no financial impost to the ratepayers of the Cessnock LGA.
Greens councillor James Ryan moved the motion at the last council meeting for the year (December 10), and said that the school’s closure was a sad blow for the local community but that it would be far worse if the heritage-listed school was sold to the Baird Government.
Today (December 17) is the last day for Wollombi Public School students.
A special closing ceremony is planned to take place at 2.30pm, including a symbolic releasing of butterflies. All are welcome to attend.
