EDUCATION bosses have revealed the first three schools to face the axe as the group tasked with drawing up the hitlist descended into chaos.
Three members of the cross-party forum considering the city's "rationalisation" plans walked out of yesterday's meeting in protest after a parent representative was ejected from the meeting.
The remaining five group members pressed ahead with the decision to announce plans for a consultation on the possible closure of Lismore, Bonnington and Westburn primaries.
CLAIMS: Education leader Marilyne MacLaren
It was originally thought four schools would be on the list, but Victoria Primary appears to have been given a reprieve for now.
The chaos at yesterday's meeting, however, has raised doubts about how the group will work together to come up with future proposals on the school estate.
The disorder began when Lynda Flex, who was chosen to represent secondary schools on the forum, was escorted from the meeting by City Chambers security staff.
She had previously been sent a letter from education leader Marilyne MacLaren telling her she had been removed from the forum for allegedly leaking details of the meetings to the Evening News.
Cllr MacLaren claimed she had "incontrovertible proof" that Mrs Flex – who was not the original source of the story and did not contact the Evening News –had passed on the information.
But after she failed to produce the evidence at yesterday's meeting, the Labour and Green party representatives – Andrew Burns and Alison Johnstone – walked out "on principle", along with parent Tracy Rendall, the primary schools representative.
Councillor Burns, Labour's education spokesman, said: "There was no incontrovertible proof put forward concerning earlier allegations of leaks to the press and I felt it inappropriate to stay in the meeting in such circumstances. It's important to stress that I remain supportive of the overall process the forum is undertaking."
Councillor Johnstone added: "The situation at the forum was as avoidable as it is regrettable.
"I left the meeting on principle as I was unable to support the decision to remove the secondary school parents representative."
Mrs Flex said: "If the incontrovertible evidence is null and void, the decision to remove me from the forum is null and void. I have every intention of taking her to the Standards Commission because she has broken numerous codes of conduct.
"It's tantamount to a total betrayal of every parent in Edinburgh who had faith in the education department."
Councillor MacLaren said: "Based on the information presented to today's meeting those present decided to proceed with the recommendation of three schools.
"The forum will continue to meet to review the children and families estate but there is no timescale for further recommendations. In the autumn the forum will review the results of the consultation, following today's announcement."
Parents ready to step up axe battlePARENTS of children at the closure-threatened schools are already gearing up to fight the proposals, which will go before a special meeting of the education committee next week for approval.
Maggie Paterson, chairwoman of Lismore school's parent council, said the children had been let down by the council, particularly as the announcement came in the wake of a damning inspection report.
Leaked to the Evening News, the report said pupils were being failed by anxious teachers with low morale.
It criticised the condition of the crumbling building, as well as the impact of the uncertainty over its future.
Ms Paterson said: "There has been a deliberate ploy by the council to destroy our school and our children over the years. I am totally disgusted that the council has treated our children like this."
Meanwhile, parents at Victoria Primary in Newhaven are celebrating after being thrown a lifeline.
Susan Edwards, chairwoman of the school's parent council, said that director of education Gillian Tee, pictured, had visited the school the day before the forum meeting.
She said: "Obviously she has listened to us and the good things about the school and I'm extremely happy. Our roll and attainment are both going up so there's a lot of progress.
"Also, the building is in good order and there will be a lot of new families moving into the area with the Western Harbour development, so there's a lot of scope there."
Ms Tee said any decisions to close the schools would be subject to a public consultation.
She said: "The Education, Children and Families Committee will talk about how this should be done at a special meeting next Wednesday."
"It is likely that members will ask for a period of wider public consultation to begin at the end of the summer."
