SCHOOL TO STAY IN EAST MEATH
AFTER weeks of upheaval, tears, shock and anger, the decision to relocate the Drogheda Educate Together Secondary School to a site at St Oliver’s CC was finally reversed last week.
What appeared to be a snap decision to build a new 500 student school on the Rathmullen Road in the space of a few months caused outrage amongst everyone concerned with the Mill Road school.
But students began their own campaign to stay in their present home and the pressure eventually brought its reward - with a hint of common sense thrown in.
Educate Together confirmed that the Department of Education had reached agreement in principle to purchase a permanent site for the school which incorporates its current temporary site on Mill Road, so that a permanent building can be constructed at the school’s current location.
‘Educate Together, as patron of the school, has been in regular contact with the Department of Education and the Drogheda ETSS board of management in relation to the school’s location and accommodation in recent weeks.
‘Educate Together would like to acknowledge the significant efforts of all those who have worked to find this solution for the school, and in particular the Department of Education; the purchase of this site will facilitate the development of the school in its current location and benefit the local community in East Meath for decades to come. Educate Together
is also grateful to Louth and Meath Education and Training Board and the management of St Olivers Community College for offering to provide space for the temporary relocation of Drogheda ETSS, which will not now no longer necessary,’ they stated.
‘ Thanks are also due to the school’s Board of Management, and to the families, students, staff, public representatives and members of the community who made their voices heard on the need to keep Drogheda ETSS in its local community.’
Educate Together CEO Emer Nowlan said the school can now continue to grow and develop in its current location, becoming a thriving school serving the community in East Meath.
‘ It is particularly welcome news for students in the school and their families, for whom the uncertainty of recent weeks has been unsettling,’ she said. ‘Educate Together continue to call for a cross-departmental review of the wider planning processes around school buildings and school sites.’
The parents building committee reacted with relief over the whole thing.
‘ We are extremely grateful to all of our local TDs who worked tirelessly over the past weeks to ensure our school remains on the Mill Road. Thank you so much - Fergus O’Dowd, Ged Nash, Imelda Munster & Thomas Byrne. We also really appreciate all the support given to us by the local community and representatives over the last three weeks, including the over 3600 people who signed our petition,’ Rory Scott and Liz Donnelly said.
‘We would also like to thank Meath
County Council for their trojan work in helping get this over the line in partnership with the Department of Education and the landowner. Most importantly, thank you to all our parents, students, our amazing school principal Susan Campbell, teachers and staff for so passionately supporting our school and rejecting the move. Your voice to ensure our wonderful school remained at the heart of our community was heard loud and clear and was instrumental in creating a strong, united message to government.
‘We want to acknowledge and thank all our local media for amplifying our united voice during the past weeks - LMFM, DroghedaLife, Drogheda Independent, Meath Chronicle and the Drogheda Leader.’
They say students could enjoy midterm and ‘ they know the school staff can’t wait to welcome their students back to Drogheda ETSS on the Mill Road very soon.
‘Whilst we very much appreciate that the decision to relocate our school has been reversed we call on the relevant departments to engage with key stakeholders, in particular students and parents before decisions such as this are taken in an arbitrary manner. This has been an incredibly stressful time for students, parents and the schools staff and we do hope that no other school and community has to endure what we just experienced.
‘We trust all key parties will ensure that building works begin as soon as possible and we look forward to seeing our permanent school flourish on the Mill Road as a key part of our powerful, united community.’