Councillors are due to discuss plans to shut seven junior secondary schools on the Western Isles.
Councillors have put on hold plans to shut seven junior secondary schools in the Western Isles.
The closures - deemed necessary for financial and policy reasons - had previously been put on hold pending a report into secondary provision.
The closures - deemed necessary for financial and policy reasons - had previously been deferred pending a report into secondary provision.
The full meeting of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar comes in the wake of the Scottish Government's announcement of proposed new legislation.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has now decided they will stay open until 2011, or until the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway is ready to take the pupils.
Its plans for next year include a presumption against rural closures.
A report by education officials had recommended they close because of cost.
But a full meeting of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar backed an amendment to defer all closures by 18 votes to 2.
It comes in the wake of the Scottish Government's announcement of proposed new legislation which included a presumption against rural closures.
The islands' schools provide S1/S2 level education. They are Paible, North Uist; Daliburgh, South Uist; Lionel, Shawbost, Back, Lochs - officially called Sgoil nan Loch - and Bayble on North Lewis.
The islands' schools provide S1/S2 level education. They are Paible, North Uist; Daliburgh, South Uist; Lionel, Shawbost, Back, Lochs - officially called Sgoil nan Loch - and Bayble on North Lewis.
The report by education officials on secondary provision recommended that their closure.
Iain Don Maciver, a parent involved in a campaign against the move, said the final decision on some closures would rest with Scottish ministers, because of the distance pupils would have to travel to the nearest school.
These government proposals could hardly come at a more emotionally charged time for communities in the Western Isles Alasdair AllanWestern Isles MSP
Mr Maciver said: "Of the seven schools, four would have to be deferred to the minister Fiona Hyslop for a final decision.
"Whether when that decision is taken and the new legislation is taken into account then that would leave a very bad taste in the mouth of those schools that have already ended up being closed."
The Rural Schools Bill would introduce a presumption against the closure of rural schools, which make up 41% of Scottish primaries and 23% of secondaries.
To date, the SNP has overruled the closure of three schools, saying the trend had brought hardship on the residents and economies of rural communities.
The bill would aim to improve the consultation process on proposed closures - an emotive issue in Scotland - but critics have questioned whether forcing councils to keep open schools with only a few pupils on the roll would be a justifiable cost.
Sunday working
Western Isles SNP MSP, Alasdair Allan, welcomed the plan.
He said: "These government proposals could hardly come at a more emotionally charged time for communities in the Western Isles.
"The schools have an excellent record and tribute should be paid to the work of staff and the wider community in making them the success that they are.
"Nobody underestimates the hard funding decisions which local authorities are faced with when rolls fall, but, my own view is that anything which this parliament can do to make the task of closing a rural primary more difficult is going to be welcome in rural Scotland."
Meanwhile, the full council was also expected to debate its Sunday working policy.
At present Comhairle staff do not work on Sundays as a rule.
But there has been fresh debate recently about opening the Lewis Sports Centre in Stornoway.
