Hundreds of parents packed into Invergordon Academy to hear about the future of the school.
The public meeting on Wednesday night was one of two being held as part of a consultation into plans to upgrade schools in the Easter Ross.
Among the three options under consideration are plans to modernise the current Alness and Invergordon Academies and build new primary schools, to create a new 3-18 campus in both towns or to merge the academies into one single school and build new primaries. Concerns were raised following Tuesday night’s meeting at Alness Academy that the council had already decided on building a merged academy in Invergordon.
But meeting chairman councillor Alasdair Christie denied this, saying all options were still open.
Catherine Richmond, of Invergordon Academy Parent Council, was one of around 300 parents who attended the meeting on Wednesday.
She said she had been reassured that all options were still on the table. She said: “It was very positive meeting. The main thing we were concerned about was if all the options were being looked at and we felt they were.
“It didn’t come across at all that the council has already taken the decision.”
She said the parent council favoured a 3-18 campus in each town.
Alness Academy parent forum’s preferred option is a merged academy sited in their town as they feel the educational benefits such as subject choice would be greater in a single school. Ms Richmond said: “We’re not too keen on a joint academy in Invergordon. It’s not just for the educational benefits, it means children won’t have to be bussed to school and can walk or cycle. It’s not just about education and subject choices – a lot more goes into schools and the community than just education.
“I feel we will be listened to and hopefully the council will make the right decision. We’ve all got concerns but at the end of the day our biggest concern is to get the best education for our children and future children.”
A report on the options is due to go before councillors early next year.