A new “area school” could be developed in the Aeron Valley replacing four smaller schools, including one already earmarked for closure.
Councillors at a learning communities overview and scrutiny committee tried to delay the closure of Cilcennin Community School until a decision on provision in the surrounding area was resolved.
However, they were told that the Cabinet decision to publish a statutory notice on discontinuing the school had been made and could not be altered unless called-in.
There is band B Welsh Government 21st Century Schools funding available for a new school.
At the scrutiny meeting Cllr Marc Davies said the 2016 option did not “single out” Cilcennin, adding that the decision to defer then could have been “political”.
“The only hope the schools in the valley have is we get that new area school for the sake of education for people in the future,” he added.
Cllr Bryan Davies said there was no political reasons behind the decision to look at education in the area and was “for the experience of pupils and we have to look at it for the wellbeing of our children".
Corporate director Barry Rees said there were financial reasons for closing Cilcennin with cost per pupil continuing to increase.
Concerns about teacher jobs if Cilcennin is closed were raised by Cllr Euros Davies who asked if those made redundant in that process would be eligible to apply for jobs in the new area school or risk “penalising” them.
He was told by Meinir Ebbsworth, corporate lead for schools, that closing Cilcennin and opening a new school were two separate processes, and the teachers who lose their jobs would be “outside of the new staffing arrangements for the new school”.
Councillors supported the proposal of a new area school, with Cllr Euros Davies saying it would “thrive” and the recommendation to commence the consultation process was agreed, subject to cabinet approval.
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