EDUCATION minister John O'Dowd, pictured, is to be given the unenviable task of deciding whether a rural Catholic school should shut or be allowed to become integrated.
Clintyclay PS near Dungannon has become the first school in the Catholic sector ever to seek 'transformation'.
It is understood that 100 per cent of parents who took part in a ballot backed the unprecedented move.
If successful, it is thought it could prompt other under-threat schools to follow suit.
Clintyclay PS, which is near the TyroneArmagh border, came to prominence last year when it came out fighting against plans to shut it down.
The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) still plans to shut the school down and a proposal has been sent to the Southern Education and Library Board (SELB). It should be published imminently. Supporters of Clintyclay, which opened in 1893, wanted CCMS to delay the publication of its closure proposal to allow consideration to be given to its transformation bid.
It is understood, however, that a second, separate proposal for transformation could also soon be published by the SELB.
The two consultations would run concurrently for two months after which time the minister would have to make a ruling on each.
Simon Doyle