Less than a month before the start of the school year, the PWC community say they remain in the dark about what their kids will be facing come September.

Government plans to build a new school in Kenmount Terrace but will only have two construction seasons to get the job done as it plans to have the school ready for September 2026.

But many parents see that timeline as unrealistic.

Leary’s Brook school ended the year with 510 students, but that number will grow to 550 this year.

Parent Renee Hayley says the community has been trying to get some basic information from NL Schools, such as what constitutes capacity.

“At the rate of growth we saw last year, we could be looking at 600 students in the school by next June,” says Hayley. “As parents, we want to know when is the school considered to be full and what is the maximum capacity when it’s considered to be beyond the point of safety and being able to offer a good education?”

She noted the facility also lacks green space.

Parents suggested eliminating some parking spaces but that was rejected because it would not leave teachers with enough places to park.

“They then suggested different drop-off points for some of the buses, but that did not fly with the board because of the elimination of the 1.6-kilometre restriction on busing.”