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Parents and students lamented the possible loss of some programs, like the aboriginal program at Britannia and the robotics and dance programs at Gladstone.

Gladstone parent Kirsten Meagher said she believes the matter is simply a reflection of “chronic government underfunding.”

She also said closures could pit parents against each other, “because they’ll be fighting for their schools rather than fighting for the common cause, which is that education is underfunded.”

Meagher said the closure would mean a sense of lost community. “I don’t think anybody likes the idea of their school being closed. I understand that some schools have to close, but I’d be unhappy if it’s this one. But again, I don’t want it to be parents pitted against parents.”

The reaction at Britannia secondary was mixed. Jordie Morrison-Melting Tallow and Christian Moyah welcomed a move, saying the building is old and in dire need of upgrades.

“I can understand it closing because it’s a really poor school (physically). It’s not really one of the best schools out there,” said Morrison-Melting Tallow, a Grade 9 student.

Parents of kids who attend Britannia elementary next door also expressed dismay and disappointment at the news.

Veronica Woods, whose daughter Samantha is in Grade 3, said: “It’s really too bad. Britannia has a really good system and great teachers.”

Woods, who belongs to the Lax Kw’alaams First Nation, wonders whether Britannia’s aboriginal program will transfer over to Templeton secondary. If not, she’ll be forced to pull her daughter out, she said.