'Exciting day' for parents, teachers learning about new schools planned for P.E.I.
Parents, teachers and municipal leaders say they're excited about the recent revelation that the provincial government plans to build three new schools on Prince Edward Island.
Finance Minister Jill Burridge tabled her 2025-2026 capital budget on Thursday, which includes plans for a new junior high school in Stratford and two new elementary schools in Charlottetown, as well as a replacement for an existing school in Georgetown.
"It certainly is an exciting day to be a Stratford parent," said Emma Ross, who has two children attending Stratford Elementary. She is also with Stratford Elementary's Home and School group.
"We do have 704 students here at Stratford Elementary, so it does logically make sense that they do have a junior high within our community, and our students can live and learn within our community," Ross said. "(It's) badly needed."
The government said work will begin on the new Stratford junior high school in 2026-2027, two years earlier than initially announced. The province is budgeting $70.4 million over the next five years for the project.
'Long overdue' junior high
"I'm ecstatic," said Stratford Mayor Steve Ogden. "It's long overdue. We really need it badly. A junior high will complete the picture for our educational infrastructure for the time being, and it will meet the needs hopefully into the future."
'We'd like to have had it yesterday,' said Stratford Mayor Steve Ogden of the newly announced Stratford Junior High School. (Rob LeClair/CBC)
Construction is already underway on a new $79M high school in Stratford, part of a new community campus which will include a wellness centre.
"It's going to make us more of a complete town," Ogden said of the addition of a junior high, something the town has wanted a firm commitment on for years.
Burridge was a member of Stratford council when the idea of a junior high was first conceived.
Currently, students from the Stratford area travel over the Hillsborough bridge to Birchwood Intermediate School.
"I think the students do get more attention and more needs met when they do go to a school that isn't busting at capacity," said Ross.
Urgency to open schools quickly
The new elementary schools, one in East Royalty and one in West Royalty, will be built close to existing elementary schools. Each will cost more than $60 million and have room for 650 students.
Andy Doran, president of the P.E.I. Teachers' Federation, said existing schools are at capacity. (Rob LeClair/CBC)
The East Royalty school will be completed in 2028-2029, when work will begin on the one in West Royalty.
"With population growth over the last five years, investment in education is needed," said Andy Doran, president of the P.E.I. Teachers' Federation.
With schools like Birchwood, Stonepark and East and West Royalty at capacity, he said there's no room for teachers to do anything that might be considered extra, such as resource and special planning.
"Anything they can do to get those schools open (as soon as possible), that'd be great," he said.
