Saskatoon's Thornton School Faced Closure Threat in 1986
On this day in 1986, the future of Thornton School in Saskatoon hung in the balance as education trustees seriously considered closing the institution. The elementary school, located near the exhibition grounds, faced a critical situation with enrollment numbers falling well below the minimum required to maintain operations.
Declining Enrollment Reaches Critical Levels
The Saskatoon Board of Education initiated a study of the 60-year-old school after enrollment figures revealed a troubling downward trend. Education Director Ray Fast presented data showing enrollment had plummeted from 187 students in September 1977 to just 97 students as of January 20, 1986. This represented a significant drop that placed the school below the board's minimum requirement of 115 pupils needed to remain open.
The situation appeared likely to worsen, with Thornton's principal forecasting enrollment would drop to just 85 students by the following September. This decline had already created educational challenges within the school, with up to three grades having to share single classrooms. A preliminary report noted that as the number of grades per classroom increased and the total number of teachers decreased, opportunities for a well-rounded education for children began to diminish significantly.
Aging Infrastructure Compounds the Problem
The enrollment crisis was further complicated by the school's deteriorating physical condition. The report presented to trustees described Thornton School as "undoubtedly the poorest physical plant in our system" and noted it was rapidly deteriorating. While structurally sound, the building's equipment had reached a critical point.
Engineers estimated that necessary repairs would cost at least $870,000, with complete modernization requiring approximately $1.47 million. These costs included essential upgrades such as installing a sprinkler system to meet current fire safety standards. The school's boiler system alone would require replacement or major repairs within two years.
Community Impact and Board Response
The enrollment decline reflected changing community dynamics, with the report noting that "some long-standing families in the community have finally decided to move their children to other schools with single grades." The previous year had seen the largest enrollment decrease in a decade, with 31 students leaving the school.
Trustee Bob Reid acknowledged the difficult position facing the board, stating, "I know it's a difficult decision, and I don't think there's any perfect solution, but we should have involved the community long before now." Education Director Fast revealed he had been aware of the school's problems for at least five years, having alerted the board to both enrollment concerns and infrastructure issues back in 1981.
The situation at Thornton School represented a complex challenge for Saskatoon's education system, balancing declining enrollment against aging infrastructure and community needs. The trustees' consideration of closure marked a significant moment in the city's educational history, highlighting the difficult decisions faced when maintaining older schools in changing neighborhoods.
