A new school under construction in the Kenmount Terrace area of St. John’s is facing challenges as it may not accommodate all the students initially intended to attend. This situation has prompted a modification in the student placement strategy, which has caused discontent among some stakeholders.
Leona Oliver, a parent of a Grade 5 student at Leary’s Brook Junior High, expressed her disappointment upon learning about the altered plan through an email last week. Initially, both Oliver and her son anticipated he would enroll in the new school upon its completion. However, the revised arrangement now restricts attendance solely to residents of the Kenmount Terrace neighborhood, excluding others like Oliver who reside elsewhere.
Voicing her concern, Oliver, along with other parents, expressed dissatisfaction that families who participated in extensive public consultations and discussions expected access to the modern educational facility, yet find themselves excluded.
Children not residing in Kenmount Terrace will continue attending existing schools within the Prince of Wales Collegiate high school feeder system. This includes St. Andrew’s Elementary, transitioning from a Grade K-4 to K-3 school, and Leary’s Brook Junior High, changing from Grade 5-8 to a Grade 4-8 institution.
Furthermore, Larkhall Academy, a primary school, is slated for closure with potential future utilization of the site being considered by the province.
Addressing the situation, Liberal Mount Scio MHA Sarah Stoodley criticized the revised student distribution plan as “extremely inequitable.” She emphasized that beyond just the physical structure, the new school offers unique features such as pre-kindergarten classes, early French immersion, and dedicated green spaces that set it apart from other educational institutions. Stoodley recalled advocating for these features during the planning phase of the school.
Stoodley, who was present at the initial announcement of the new school, highlighted her assurance from past discussions that the school would accommodate all K-7 students within the feeder system. She called for transparency from the education and infrastructure departments regarding the decision-making process.
In response, Education Minister Paul Dinn clarified that the new school was designed for around 860 students, with a capacity of potentially over 900. However, the projected student enrollment at the time of opening exceeded 1,058, leading to the need for adjustments in the plans.
While Stoodley criticized the revised distribution as a “lazy” choice, Minister Dinn defended the decision as the least disruptive among several alternatives considered. When asked about potential reconsideration based on parental feedback, Dinn emphasized the physical constraints of the school not being tailored for such a large student population.
Considering the ongoing concerns, the possibility of re-evaluating the distribution plan remains uncertain, with the fundamental limitation being the school’s physical capacity.