Upper House MLC Paul Green has moved for a select committee to be established to investigate and report on the closure of public schools including Martins Creek and Wollombi public schools.

He is calling for the committee to look into the processes, policies, ­procedures, accountability and ­decision making surrounding the ­closures and the impact on local school communities affected by the closures.

Martins Creek Public School parent Gina Goulder has welcomed the motion and urged concerned ­parents, community members and Department of Education and Communities staff to come ­forward with their submissions.

“This is about the processes, standards, culture and behaviour of the DEC and its officers,” Mrs Goulder said.

“If there are flaws in the DEC itself they will be reflected in the process of school closure.

"It is very much in the public interest that bullying, favouritism, dishonesty, concealment of information and any other dishonesty by staff be revealed if it is happening.

“I urge anyone with any concern about the DEC and its processes to make submissions to the inquiry in the interests of justice.”

The DEC has confirmed the school will close at the end of year.

The Mercury reported in November, last year, the DEC recommended the Martins Creek Public School’s closure in an internal briefing document to Education Minister Adrian Piccoli in October.

It noted that demographic ­projections indicated the school’s enrolment numbers would not likely increase significantly from the current eight students.

The location of the school, 7.5 ­kilometres from Vacy Public School and 12.3 kilometres from Paterson Public School, meant that Martins Creek students would be able to catch an existing bus service to their new schools, the document noted.

It said the closure would save the government $34,000 per year.