Waterford — For parents of students attending the Dual Language & Arts Magnet Middle School, news of its closure has caused a mixed bag of emotions.

Parents have expressed disappointment and irritation after learning over the past week that LEARN, a regional educational service center based in Old Lyme, plans to close the Waterford school at the end of the academic year. LEARN was not hitting enrollments targets and does not have the money to renovate the 51 Daniels Ave. location, the shuttered former Southwest Elementary School.

For current sixth- and seventh-graders at the school, the only options LEARN has to offer is to return them to their home districts, attempt to get them into another magnet program elsewhere or send them to Goodwin University in East Hartford, where LEARN operates two magnet schools. LEARN set up an agreement to operate the dual language program for two years in an unused building on the university's campus.

LEARN leaders, after hearing from staff and school families, plans to announce a decision by Feb. 10.

The East Hartford move is only viable, however, if “a large number of staff and families” opt for that, LEARN Executive Director Kate Ericson said. She did not disclose the threshold to make the move viable.

Tony Liss of Montville, who on Friday attended the third of three forums set up by LEARN officials to field questions, has a son at the school and said he hasn’t yet decided. The one-hour bus ride and apparent lack of any available after-school activities at the East Hartford campus might help sway his ultimate decision to remain in Montville.

It’s Liss’ third child going through the LEARN program and he volunteers with the school’s robotics club. He said he hoped the club could continue in some capacity, at some location. He said while the small class sizes and staff have been great, the school has lacked extracurricular activities for years.

Alece Walker of New London has a son at the school and said she chose this small magnet school because of the environment, the programs and, frankly, did not want him to attend New London’s middle school.

Walker, whose son is in sixth grade, is leaning toward the East Hartford option and said the Hartford area has blossomed as far as different magnet programs. There still is the long ride to consider, however, she said.

“It’s hard, really,” she said of her options.

Others at Friday’s forum raised questions about driving to East Hartford in the event a child must leave school early for something like a sickness. Ericson said all the logistics had not been worked out but said LEARN might consider using the Regional Multicultural Magnet School for things like parent-teacher conferences.

Ericson said a survey was being sent out to staff and families to ask for a response on the move. LEARN leadership plans to meet with Goodwin University officials on Feb. 5. At that point, Ericson said, the question "Do I have critical mass?" will need to be answered.

In the meantime, Ericson said she had been in contact with officials from the New London school district about availability of seats in the district’s three magnet school programs. The lottery already has closed but she said New London has agreed to take on some of the students. Half of the 150 students at the dual language school come from New London.

Ericson said New London officials were informed of what’s happening and have agreed to open their lottery. New London can guarantee seats in the arts magnet and international education programs but not in the STEM program. New London is planning an open house for the families of the dual language school.

The Interdistrict School for Arts and Communication also has a few seats available, Ericson said.

The Dual Language & Arts Magnet Middle School, a program founded in 2007, has been renting space at the former Southwest Elementary School building since 2010. The program originally was located at the B.P Learned Academy and moved to the Shiloh Baptist Church in New London but had outgrown its space because of increasing enrollment.

Ericson said the school district from where each student originates pays a $2,600 tuition, which is supplemented with $8,000 in state magnet funding.

g.smith@theday.com