In an effort to save the possible costs to upgrade some schools in east Edmonton, the city’s Catholic School Board is looking at closing four aging schools, and moving those students into one new school.

The matter was slated for debate Tuesday at the Edmonton Catholic School Board’s meeting as part of discussions for the school district’s capital plan.

The schools in question are three elementary schools: St. Brendan School, St. James School and St. Gabriel, and St. Kevin Junior High.

All of the schools are at least 50 years old, and the school board said it’ll cost more than $22 million over the next five years to bring the aging schools up to par.

In addition, enrollment is low at some of the schools – although an official with St. Gabriel said it’s not the case at their school.

“We have 168 kids at our school right now, and we’re projecting an enrollment of 181 next year, which is considerable,” Lana Brenneis, Chair of St. Gabriel’s PAC said.

To make up for the closure of the four schools, the board is looking at building an entirely new elementary and junior high school on a site in the area of 72 Street and 96A Avenue called St. Bernard.

The new school would be built to accommodate 750 students, and a day care.

The board’s capital plan must be presented to the province by the end of this week.

With files from Susan Amerongen