Members of the campaign to save West End Primary School from closure plan to meet in the City of Hamilton later today with placards, in the team’s latest bid to keep the school earmarked for closure open.
A spokesperson said they will meet at 12 noon at Nellie’s Walk on Church Street.
“Dubbed the ‘West End Warriors For Legacy’ the team’s action will comprise placard bearers and brochure distribution,” the spokesperson added.
“They will be highlighting the key features of West End Primary school which make it a better choice, as the Parish Primary school, than Government’s current choice of Somerset Primary school.”
It was also noted that “Government’s yet to be disclosed total cost estimates, for converting either school to their proposed 21st Century, fit-for-purpose facility, are very likely to be far lower for West End Primary than for Somerset Primary”.
“Other factors that put West End Primary at the front of the line, include its superior geographic location, its unmatched historical significance and the fact that it is the one school in Sandys Parish that has the honour of having educated the vast majority of Sandys Parish residents – past and present.
“Additional key aspects of the West End Warriors’ position include: safety of the children, public transportation accessibility, environmental factors and its already existing status as the community ‘hub’.
“West End Primary at 152 years old, was founded in 1869 to provide education for black children at a time when slavery had only just been abolished in the United States of America.
“Let us not forget, it is one of the oldest, continuously-operated, black, elementary schools in the Western hemisphere.”
Following public consultation in July, the Government said they plan to move ahead with plans to shut down 10 primary schools.
