New Saint John school applauded by DEC official, teacher
A new school in Saint John’s lower west side is being applauded by education officials and teachers even as the exact location of the future building is still unknown.
Education Minister Serge Rousselle announced 10 new school projects when he released his capital budget estimates last week.
The largest amount of provincial funding set aside for those 10 school projects was the $2.6 million that was earmarked for the new Saint John school.
Rob Fowler, the chair of the Anglophone South District Education Council, said the new school is a project that the council had been working on for months.
"We've been working in the community, talking to the parents at Havelock, Seawood, as well as St. Patrick’s about the very possibility of getting a new school and closing those three buildings on a permanent basis,” he said.
St. Patrick’s Elementary School was closed last July because of structural concerns.
The main building was constructed in 1924, with the gymnasium being added in 1959 and a new wing in 1964.
The Department of Education hasn't released any more details about the school that will replace St. Patrick’s.
The department says more public meetings are planned. The consultation meetings will wrap up in January with a final meeting at Havelock School.
The district education council will then hold a vote and give its recommendations to the provincial government on where the new school should be located.
Barry Ogden, a Saint John teacher, said funding for a new school is good sign, but he has concerns about where the new school will be built.
"I was hoping to see some type of institution stay in lower west side because most of the churches have closed there. Carleton Community Centre is there and that's built in 1863 and that needs refurbishment,” he said.
“The food bank's down there. I would hate to see it that we end up with vulnerable neighbourhoods and the only institutions we have are food banks, because that's a self-fulfilling prophecy."
