The official opposition is joining with concerned parents to express their frustration on what they say is a lack of progress on the new school that is going to be built in Kenmount Terrace.
Education Critic Paul Dinn says he met with with parents representing students at Larkhall Academy, Leary’s Brook Junior High, and PWC, who are “frustrated” with not only a lack of progress on the new school, but overcrowding at current facilities which is creating another slew of problems.
Government recently announced a reconfiguration of affected schools as an interim measure while the new facility is built.
Jillian Croke, the parent of a child at Leary’s Brook, argues that reconfiguration is actually making things worse.
She says there’s overcrowding, and as a result students are losing library and cafeteria space due to makeshift classrooms being set up.
As well, she says Leary’s Brook Jr High has no outdoor greenspace, resulting in kids playing in areas with traffic—such as parking lots. She calls it “unacceptable to our children.”
To the Premier and Education Minister, Croke’s message is that the situation is “just sad.”
She says it is sad to think that some children have space to play outside, and are able to take out a library book, and others do not. She asks government to put themselves in the shoes of those parents, and if that would be acceptable for their children.
