Under threat of two more school closures in Victoria, the district school board has called an emergency meeting Wednesday night.

Trustees said the "special" meeting will focus on a report that recommends closing two elementary schools by July 1 because student populations are expected to drop by 500 students annually across the district until 2020.

The two elementary schools that could face closure are in Saanich and Esquimalt, but school board Chair Michael McEvoy said that no final decisions would be made before intense consultation with parents, teachers and students in the community.

McEvoy also noted that shutting down some schools can often work to benefit others.

"We want to make sure that these schools that are living, breathing schools are the best they can be," he said. "Those buildings we're not using — we take from them the lease payments or sale … the monies from those — and reinvest back in our existing schools."

Among the recommendations outlined in the committee report are options to merge the adult education centre, S.J. Willis, with the school district offices. The report also recommends moving special programs — such as one for troubled teen girls and another for pregnant teens — into regular high schools.

All of those options are possibilities to be discussed at Wednesday's meeting, McEvoy said.
 
Since 2003, the Greater Victoria School District has closed six elementary schools.