It's a heartbreaking conversation; listening to a principal talk about the possibility of losing his job, his community, and most of all his beloved school. He vividly recalls sitting there with many other principals, as one by one, they were handed packages outlining what would happen to their schools and the children who attend them. The dust has settled since the Education Minister's shock announcement which could see 13 state primary and intermediate schools close, another 18 merge as well as the creation of school "clusters". Covering this story I've spoken to a number of principals and teachers... bewildered probably sums up how they're feeling.   One principal says his school is expected to merge with another and he's spent most of the week in confusion. Is the ministry actually proposing something?  Or has the decision already been made? He believes it has already been decided and he can't say no. The Ministry says, 173 out of the 214 schools in Christchurch aren't affected but it's still a big deal.  Within each of the 41 schools facing change... there are the kids to think about; kids, their parents and families.   Schools are often the center of a community...  one of  the few places kids feel safe.  Now in many parts of the city this will be disrupted.    Morning routines will be different; children will have to go to new schools... in some cases they won't be able to walk anymore.  If there are no buses and parents don't have cars, transport