Office of the Official Opposition 

More questions than answers after Kenmount Terrace Public Meeting: Dinn

 

 

For Immediate Release

(June 27, 2024, St. John’s, N.L.): Paul Dinn, PC Shadow Minister of Education (MHA, Topsail—Paradise), expressed concern after attending a meeting Tuesday night organized by the Furey Liberal Government to provide an update on the proposed new school in Kenmount Terrace and the reconfiguration of the PWC school system announced in April.

Joining Dinn at the meeting was PC Leader Tony Wakeham, over 80 parents, and concerned residents. Liberal MHA Sarah Stoodley organized the meeting, which was also attended by Minister of Education Krista Lynn Howell and John Abbott, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

“Unfortunately, parents left the meeting more frustrated than ever,” explained Dinn. “The Furey Liberals continue to indicate they can build a new school for 850+ children in just 18 months, while the current facilities are overcrowded, and they do not seem to have any plan to address the many issues raised by parents at the meeting.”

“Leary’s Brook Junior High has seen exponential growth over the past year, averaging 2 to 4 new children weekly. We are projected to have 550 Children in September, which exceeds our highest historical enrolment of 547. We are busting at the seams, and the government appears to have been caught off guard with no plan to address this short-term while the new school is still years away,” said Darrell Hynes, Chair of the Leary’s Brook Junior High School Council.

Parents have submitted a list of action items to the government ranging from cleaning and maintenance issues to accessibility concerns, safety, overcrowding and the lack of outdoor play space.

“We only have two months before school reopens. Government must move quickly to address these items before the school bell rings in September,” emphasized Dr. Jill Croke, a spokesperson for a group of local parents that gathered and submitted the list to the government. “Many parents have serious concerns over the quality of education their children will receive in that building with overcrowded classes and a building long past its useful life.”

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