Saint John Mayor Ivan Court has praised the provincial education minister's decision not to close two schools in the city's north end.

Education Minister Kelly Lamrock Tuesday denied School District 8's request to close Lorne Middle School and Hazen White-St. Francis School.

Lamrock said closing the schools would "disempower" people living in the low-income neighbourhoods where the schools are located.

Mayor Court said Wednesday that Lamrock's decision is a real morale boost for the community, which he considers to be a "priority neighborhood."

School District 8 had hoped to save money by closing the schools and moving middle children to Millidgeville North School, which is better equipped and largely empty.

"Things can happen. You can live in a vulnerable community and not know it," Court said. "You can end up at the [microphone] or sitting on common council — anything's possible if you believe, and someone is there pushing you.

"So I want to thank the government for coming to the plate and pushing this community forward."

The decision to keep the schools open is just the beginning for the north end, Court said, adding that the city will continue to work on areas for improvement such as cleaning up dilapidated buildings and continuing with improved community policing.