Parents win battle for extra school

A parents' committee spokesman said parents were "very satisfied" with the decision.

By MIRIAM BULWAR DAVID-HAY
Ra'anana's parents have won a hard-fought battle against the Education Ministry to gain an additional elementary school in the city without shutting down any existing schools, reports Ha'ir-Tzomet Hasharon. According to the report, the struggle began after the city decided some months ago to build a new school in the "2005" neighborhood of the city. The Education Ministry refused to approve the construction of an additional school in Ra'anana, and the city decided it would close down the existing Ziv school and move its pupils to another existing school, Megged, in return for gaining the new school. Parents from both schools were dismayed, saying that Megged does not have enough room or sufficient facilities for such an influx of students. The city then decided it would not unite the two schools, but would still close Ziv and move its students to the new school. But Ziv parents protested that the new school would be too far from their homes and would necessitate the creation of a transport system. Two weeks ago, the Education Ministry reportedly surrendered to parents' demands and agreed to allow the new school to be constructed, without Ziv or any other school having to be shut down. A parents' committee spokesman said parents were "very satisfied" with the decision. And a municipal spokesman said Mayor Nahum Hofree had asked the ministry to approve a new school, and his efforts had now "borne fruit." The new school is expected to be completed by the end of 2008.