My grandmother was from Out Skerries (she's the one in the middle with her hands crossed), I spent my childhood holidays there and many of my relatives are the current inhabitants of the island. It is the definition of a Shetland Islands Community.

There is evidence of a community on Out Skerries dating back as far as the New Stone Age and while today's community is not of the scale of years gone by, it is nonetheless 'a community' and a part of the 'Shetland Islands'. In fact the very essence of the Shetland Islands is its 'communities'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out_Skerries

Shetland Island Council today (11/12/13) voted 10/10 with a casting vote by convenor Malcolm Bell to close the Secondary School on Out Skerries to save £74,000 per annum. The pupils will be forced to travel to Lerwick every week and board for five days.

Can you remember what is what like going to secondary school, never mind being torn away from your family for five days a week? Anyone who knows Shetland, also knows that the weather can be unpredictable and fierce, so there is a very really danger of children being marooned on the mainland away from their families!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-24466519

Out Skerries is a proud and historic community which works hard to maintain its scale and growth. Take away the secondary school and this could potentially start a more rapid decline in the numbers and lead to the end of one of the Shetland Islands oldest communities.

Reverse this Council decision and urge Scottish Government Minister Michael Russell MSP Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning to call it in and reverse the decision.

Promote this petition on Social Media, call your friends to action, mobilise the voice of the Shetland Islands and its friends. Save Skerries Secondary School, because saving this school is the same as saving any island school on any island, anywhere in Scotland.

This is not about consultation, and it’s not about money, it is about preserving the fabric of Shetlands 'Island Communities'.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/14944/Scottish-Cabinet/michaelrussellmsp