At the beginning of this week three-year-old Gina Boni started full-time at Corrie Nursery School but already the future of her education looks uncertain.
Her first day began with a celebration, a party for her, organised by staff and children who carry the burden of knowing that their nursery and primary school face closure before the end of next year.
Corrie community councillor John Inglis has criticised North Ayrshire Council’s figures which they produced in support of plans to close the tiny school and send the pupils to Brodick Primary School.
Mrs Inglis said: ‘The figures in the proposal are grossly inaccurate. It is stated that there will be no pupils in the school by the year 2012.
‘Just today I saw little Gina Boni playing in her garden. Where do they think she will be in five years’ time?’
Gina’s mother Nici Boni said: ‘We live in small communities where it has now become difficult to get bread, milk and petrol. We must not allow the same to become true of education.’
In a letter to The Arran Banner, MSP Kenneth Gibson said: ‘As you know, I visited Corrie on Tuesday and can state quite categorically that the information given to councillors was inaccurate, not least in terms of pupil numbers (underestimated) and school capacity (grossly overestimated).
‘I believe that when the closure of Corrie Primary School comes before North Ayrshire Council next year it should be strongly opposed.’
Nici added: ‘This potential closure is short sighted, does not make sense and must be opposed on all levels. Surely a school doing so well for its pupils should not have to be fighting for its survival.’
Arran’s Community Council has vowed to help save the school.
Chairman Campbell Laing said: ‘We will support the fight against closure all the way and do all that we can to help keep Corrie Primary School open’. Corrie School Parent Council are in the process of organising a public meeting. The date will be printed in The Banner next week.
