Delta Secondary School is as good as saved, says Councillor Sam Merulla.

The 88-year-old building, Hamilton's oldest secondary school, was approved by the city's heritage committee for heritage designation Thursday.

"It's basically designated now," Merulla said soon after, celebrating the decision.

Merulla, who is councillor for Ward 4, where the stately brick school sits at Main Street East and Graham Avenue South, introduced a motion back in June to protect the building after the school closes in 2016.

Now, after the heritage committee's official approval, all that's needed to seal the deal is council's "rubber stamp," says Merulla, in the form of an information report that will go to council soon.