Education Minister Krista Lynn Howell is responding to concerns of families in the PWC community as the march back to school approaches.

The PWC system includes Leary’s Brook Junior High, St. Andrew’s Elementary, Larkhall Academy, and PWC, which will undergo extensive grade changes this fall due to a lack of current space.

But parents fear overcrowding, the use of libraries and cafeterias as makeshifts classrooms, and limited outdoor play space remain serious concerns.

Howell, however, begs to differ.

“When we look at capacity we want to ensure an educational capacity, so it’s different to say you can have 600 people in a building versus the number of spaces that reasonably house students,” she said.

“So when we looked at our capacity for educational purposes, we’re confident that all of the schools in that school system can house the number of students that are projected to be there this year.”

The grade reconfigurations are expected to be an interim measure until a new school opens in Kenmount Terrace.

That’s scheduled to open two years for now.