Parents from around Port Augusta, and across 44 schools in the Upper Spencer Gulf, were polled until close of business yesterday on the State Government’s voluntary $216 million Education Works initiative.

Governing councils have polled parents, who were invited to decide whether plans to amalgamate schools in the city should continue or not.

Over the past few weeks, schools have overlooked preliminary concept designs for schools in Port Augusta and Stirling North.

A spokesperson from the Department of Education said the Port Augusta proposal includes three Birth to Year 7 schools, a Year 8-12 school, a Special School, an Aboriginal School and a stand alone preschool.

Varied reactions have been voiced across the community since the proposal was

made public early last month.

The Education Union earlier last month voiced concern that yesterday’s deadline

was too soon for parents to make a valid decision.

Parents were urged to make their votes count, with only the majority of votes taken – not the percentage of parents in Port Augusta - used the assess the overall community voice.

The Education Department could not comment on the number of votes received.

A spokesperson said results would be known in the next few days.

“Pending the outcome of the poll, any final decision on school or preschool closure may occur later in the year through another parent vote.”