Webbwood Public School may have to close forcing the students to be taught in Espanola. The scenario is the result of the province giving the Rainbow board less money. That combination of less money and declining enrolment has Rainbow looking at consolidating several elementary schools under its umbrella, most of them in Sudbury. In the case of Webbwood, the students would be bussed to Espanola High School and taught in the part of EHS that is designated A.B. Ellis Public School.
Trustees will hear from the public at accommodation review meetings before they make a final decision next January. Right now, the timetable is to close Webbwood in September 2017 and send the students to Espanola. The consolidations would save the school board about $3.5 million a year.