The education minister disputes a contention by the MHA who represents the Kenmount Terrace area that the new K-8 school in the sprawling subdivision will be large enough to accommodate all students in the greater catchment area, including the schools off Thorburn Rd.
Government has changed the eligibility parameters, reserving the new school for those who live exclusively in Kenmount Terrace. Initially, students from outside the subdivision were to be accommodated at the new facility but that plan has changed entirely.
Progress on the school as of April 2026 (VOCM News)
Education Minister Paul Dinn says the numbers do not add up as there are about 1060 students in the region but the new school has space for only 860.
However, housing them in the newer neighbourhood will relieve pressure on other schools.
“Leary’s Brook, for example, was well over their numbers but now we have room there that allows us to grow, there’s room in St. Andrew’s, and room in Prince of Wales as well as Kenmount Terrace,” Dinn says.
MHA Sarah Stoodley, who was a cabinet minister during the planning and early construction phase, says something has changed because she had meeting after meeting and was assured by government officials that the school, as designed, met the region’s needs.
