COMHAIRLE plans to close S1/S2 schools across the islands hit a hurdle last night when councillors took the shock decision to delay all closures until further notice.
After lengthy debates and extremely tight voting on the future of Back, Lionel and Shawbost secondary units, it was decided to discontinue S1/S2 at Back but to defer the decisions on Lionel and Shawbost until reports on the provision of education up
to S3 had been completed by the Director of Education.
However in a move which went even further, Cllr Norman M Macleod, seconded by Cllr Donald John Macsween, put forward an amendment which proposed the deferral of implementation of the Comhairle's decisions on Bayble, Daliburgh, Sgoil nan Loch and Back until reports on the provision of education up to S3 had been looked at.
At the finale of the consultation process, it was then agreed that S1/S2 closures would not get underway until reports had been prepared on all seven schools.
Exasperated by the situation, Chair of Education Morag Munro abstained from taking part in the final vote which was given a unanimous backing by all other councillors.
She said she was very unhappy with what had happened and that the call for a report on all seven schools would be a 'burden' on the education department.
There was also a move to hold a review of all educational provision put forward by Cllr Donald Manford, however this was backed only by the SNP members.
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