Parents of Pitcorthie Primary pupils fear children will suffer if it is closed.
The Dunfermline school is one of seven facing the axe as Fife Council reviews its schools estate, a move that has left worried mums and dads “shocked” according to its parent council.
“If we make a mess of their education now, they are going to suffer for the rest of their lives,” said council chairwoman Kathryn Dixon.
On behalf of the parent council, Mrs Dixon told City of Dunfermline councillors that Pitcorthie school and nursery was an integral part of the community.
“Although we have been made aware that the building has some structural issues, we have yet to be convinced by any of Fife Council’s arguments for closure.
“An additional £1.4 million has been earmarked for a new nursery at Lynburn Primary, to replace the fantastic nursery at Pitcorthie, and additional investment has been set aside to increase the capacity at the other three schools set to receive our children,” she said.
Mrs Dixon also feared a discrepancy between the cost of carrying out structural repairs to improve the building.
“At scrutiny committee, it was stated that £700-£800,000 is required to address the structural issues at our school,” she said.
“This does not match the £2.8m stated to parents to make our school category B, which, in the structural report, our building would be if structural issues were not a factor.”
Directorate resources manager Shelagh McLean and head of education Donna Manson said the £800,000 figure was what it would take as a one-off to fix the structural issues while it was estimated it would cost the larger sum to address all the issues raised in the condition survey.
Mrs Dixon said at the heart of the issue was the upheaval it would cause the community, something which had nothing to do with bricks and mortar.
“The ethos of our school encourages community spirit and pride in our school, being a friendly and open environment for parents, carers and children alike.
“The education our children receive is not as a result of the building but of the relationships built between children, home and school, and the encouragement from peers in a supportive community environment.
“We feel this would be lost should the mix be changed.
“Despite asking Fife Council to quantify the educational benefit to our children of this proposal, we have yet to receive a response other than building suitability.
“Surely, at the heart of any proposal must be significant improvement of the education of our children, not just a local council trying to save money,” she said.
Mrs Dixon said parents’ main concerns were that the childen will suffer, through the potential unnecessary investment in other schools, loss of facilities and green space and the lack of consideration of educational benefits of the plans.
“The disruption to the social and emotional development of our children, particularly those with additional support needs, is immeasurable and the complete removal of parental choice cannot be accepted.
“We feel that all these concerns, unaddressed, will lead to reduced levels of attainment in the future.”
Mrs Dixon asked that the council and elected members seek accurate and complete information, which she claimed in some instances appeared lacking.
She also asked that the parents of the school be involved “in finding the best solution for our children without any unrealistic or inaccurate price tag”.