(July 13, 2023, St. John’s) – Paul Dinn, MHA for Topsail-Paradise, says it’s time for the Liberal Government to update the families of Paradise and surrounding area on when a new high school will be announced.

“The population of Paradise is growing every year and with it the number of school aged children. In fact, some school groups have doubled in size over a ten year period. There are currently over 2,500 students enrolled in the elementary schools and intermediate school in my district of Topsail-Paradise and an additional 3,300 enrolled in the intermediate/high schools in neighboring communities. Hundreds of students are being transported out of Paradise on a daily basis to these nearby schools,” said Dinn.

“The need for a new high school was identified by the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District in 2014-15. The projections and data supported the need for investment in a high school. However, the Liberal Government deferred the high school indefinitely.”

Dinn noted a lot of work has been completed with regards to enrollment projections and all numbers point towards the need for a high school in Paradise sooner rather than later.

“Neighboring high schools are beyond maximum capacity and seeing class sizes escalate to unmanageable levels and limiting extracurricular activities for students,” said Dinn.

“It’s good to see the Liberal Government addressing the need for new high schools in other parts of the province, which only further highlights the needs to families in Paradise and surrounding region. My constituents need an update on when the new school will be announced and they need it now.”

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Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca