The mayor of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s is commending the Tories and Liberals for putting aside politics to establish a new high school for the growing town.
The project was unveiled in the recent budget and yesterday the site was revealed—at the intersection of Old Broad Cove Road and Maggie’s Place.
It will involve an expenditure of $33 million over the next four years, with the tentative opening in the fall of 2026, reducing busing of students to schools in St. John’s.
Mayor Carol McDonald recognized both the PC MHA for the area, Dave Brazil, as well as Premier Andrew Furey for making the dream a reality.
“I spent the past six years nagging our MHA Mr. Brazil, and I’m not sorry for that, Dave. I didn’t stop there. I also nagged former Premier Ball, but I have to thank Premier Furey for finally listening and realizing that our concerns were valid.”
Furey, meanwhile, has faced criticism for championing the school his kids may attend because they live in the district, and because it was not on the school board’s list of priorities.
But he noted pleas for the new school pre-date his government, making a point of crediting the mayor, and Brazil, for much of the leg work.
“This has been proposed across governments, with multiple colours, for multiple years. So I would like to thank MHA Brazil, my MHA, for continuing to be a tireless advocate on this particular project. This stems back over a decade really, and your efforts, sir, in ensuring that this got across the finish line are to be commended.”
The school was one of several earmarked in the recent budget, including others for Cartwright and the Kenmount Terrace area of St. John’s, totalling almost $130 million.
NDP Leader Jim Dinn called the entire process of approving the new school disappointing and an example of shallow decision-making.
He accuses Furey and the Liberals of defaulting to easier routes such as announcing long-term design plans for the school instead of tackling immediate concerns such as air quality and teacher allocation.
Dinn says the irony is not lost on the school community of Frank Roberts Junior High in C.B.S., which has also demanded a new school In light of rodent and air issues.
Furey, meanwhile noted yesterday that enrolment will spike to almost 65,000 this coming fall, adding the government is in discussions with the teachers’ association regarding staffing and allocation.
