The Mt Carmel School and wider Yass community gathered Thursday night to hear first hand from the Catholic Education Office why it had determined the high school should close at the end of this year.
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Despite urgings by School Board chair Lara Kirk for everyone to listen to one another and have an open and calm discussion, emotions were obviously running high and there were passionate outbursts from time to time throughout the meeting.
Letters of support from federal Hume MP Angus Taylor and state Burrinjuck MP Katrina Hodgkinson were read out by the two school captains. Mr Taylor was also present for most of the meeting.
Parish priest, Father Mick Burke, outlined the history of Catholic education in Yass, going back some 160 years, and said he was very disappointed that there hadn't been consultation with the community before the decision was made.
He could barely contain his outrage, as well, as he outlined what he thought were quite possibly defamatory comments made about him and principal Gaye McManus on Canberra radio earlier that day, by CEC chair Daryl Smeaton. He said Mr Smeaton had said he and Mrs McManus were to blame for parents not knowing the closure was imminent, which he said was completely untrue.
He later publicly asked Mr Smeaton to apologise for his radio comments and Mr Smeaton refused, saying "I look forward to your defamation suit, Mick."
Those assembled listened patiently as CEC director Moira Najdecki explained the process the CEO and CEC had gone through to come to a decision about closing the high school. She said a report in 2012 had said that the secondary school should remain open, but that they would keep a 'watching brief' on enrolments.
She said in February this year enrolments had fallen again, by 25 per cent.
She said it was not just a matter of year 6's not coming into year 7, but high school children leaving as well.
"I'm responsible for overseeing 27 schools, to make sure each is resourced properly.
"We looked at educational viability, financial viability and alternative Catholic schooling options."
She said it was costing the CEO $270,000 per year to keep the high school open.
Year 10 student Lauren Harris asked if they had considered what would happen to the teachers who wouldn't have a job after this year.
Ms Najdecki said all permanent staff would be offered redeployment.
Jane Edwards, who has been teaching at the school for six years but is not permanent, asked what would happen in her case? Ms Najdecki could not offer her an answer but said they would look at each case.
Parent Chantal Fleming said the reason for falling enrolments was because parents wanted the continuity of sending their children to a school that goes all the way through to year 12. She asked what it would cost for Mt Carmel to extend to years 11 and 12.
"I've never been asked to extend to years 11 and 12 [at Mt Carmel] in the whole eight years I've been here," Ms Najdecki said. A number of people gasped and vocalised disagreement, saying they had often asked why Mt Carmel couldn't go to year 12.
Parent Craig Morton tried to clarify why, when the recommendation from the 2012 report was to keep the school open, it was now being closed without any further analysis or surveying.
Ms Najdecki waved her report in the air and said, "There's been plenty of analysis!"
Asked what parents could do to keep the school open, Ms Najdecki said nothing as "the decision was final".
CEC chair Daryl Smeaton was urged to get up and speak to the group, which was now becoming more vocal. He did so reluctantly, saying he had been told not to speak.
"I understand the pain," he said.
"This is the fifth school I've been involved in to close... It's the worst thing. But the decision has been made.
"There is no chance at this stage for the decision to be taken off... it's happening," he said.
Mrs Kirk, who was chairing the meeting, lost her patience with Mr Smeaton when he said he wasn't "management" and therefore didn't have the authority to change the decision.
"Well if you aren't management and have no power, sit down. You're no good to us," she said exasperatedly - after being calm and reasonable up until that point.
The three Canberra visitors, Ms Najdecki, Mr Smeaton and CEO Head of School Services Helen Casey then walked out of the meeting, angry and upset.
The meeting was gradually wound up, with parents voting to continue to fight to have Archbishop Christopher Prowse reconsider the decision to close Mt Carmel High School. There was also a move to look at what it would take to get the high school extended to years 11 and 12.
Parents agreed to meet again next Thursday night, same time and place, to continue to coordinate their efforts.
Many parents offered to help in various ways.
Parent Daniel Clark said he had that day set up a Facebook page called Save Mt Carmel School.
Mrs Kirk revealed that students in years 5 - 10 will be invited, with their parents' permission, to stage a peaceful protest next Wednesday, by having an excursion to Canberra to march across Commonwealth Bridge to the Archbishop's residence and picnic on his lawn.
"It's a way of just saying we're here!" she said.
The plan was met with enthusiastic applause.
