The much talked-about impact of the closure of eight schools in P.E.I.'s Eastern School District will be felt for real Tuesday as the new school year begins.

'Some of us are pretty disgusted that we don't have a school here anymore.'— Peter MacDougall

School board trustees voted to close the schools last spring as a way of dealing with declining enrolments across the eastern half of the province. For hundreds of students, it means not only leaving their old schools behind, but also a longer trip to their new school.

It took 13-year-old Hannah MacDougall of St. Peters Bay 10 minutes to walk to school last year. This year, she is getting on a bus for a 10-kilometre ride to Morell Consolidated.

"I'm excited about it, 'cause I get to meet new friends and stuff," she said.

"I think it's going to be really different for me, but I think I'll get to know the people and I think I'll like it."

Hannah's father, Peter MacDougall, is upset by the change, but begrudgingly accepts it.

"On a personal level, I know some of us are pretty disgusted that we don't have a school here anymore," said MacDougall.

"Even though I didn't like it, you've got to remember there's pretty intelligent people that are making these decisions. And let them do what it is they were asked to do, and that's the way it is."

Easing students in

Morell Consolidated principal Leo Hendricken said staff at the school are aware there could be a difficult adjustment period. Not only are there 70 students from St. Peter's Consolidated moving into the school, but teachers from St. Peters are also coming to Morell.

An orientation was held earlier this summer to help make the new children like Hannah feel more at ease when school started.

"We invited them in to see the school, and they went through with their teachers," said Hendricken.

"We had a social event, sports and a barbecue. And then the staff circulated and talked to each individual kid, so those students had the opportunity of coming over and asking a few questions."

The report on reorganizing schools to deal with declining enrolments recommended the closure of 11 schools, but following an extensive period of public consultation, the school board voted to keep open the two schools recommended for closures in Charlottetown and the one in Georgetown.