Yves Bolduc intervenes in Repentigny school land dispute

A dispute over a parcel of land in Repentignythat's pitted the English and French school boards in the community just northeast of Montreal against each other has now forced Quebecs Education Minister Yves Bolduc to intervene.

The land sits next to Repentignys only English-language elementary school, Franklin Hill Elementary, which was hoping to build a soccer field and outdoor classroom on it.

RepentignysFrench-language Commission scolaire des Affluents, however, says it needs the land for a new elementary school to accommodate the areas burgeoning population.

Both schools would have a combinedcapacity of 1,400 students.

The French-language school board has the support of the City of Repentigny, which says theres no other land available for the much-needed school.

That position has parents of Franklin Hill students upset, many of whom packed a city council meetingin mid-July to voice their anger.

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Among other issues, the English-speaking parents say the new school would generate excessive traffic through the neighbourhood.

Franklin Hill parents have also organized a petition against the proposed newschool that now has 700 signatures.

Last week, Parti Qubcois education critic Nicole Lger asked Education Minister Yves Bolduc to intervene, saying the English-languageSir Wilfred Laurier School Board was moving ahead with construction of the soccer field.

A spokeswoman for Bolduc confirmed to CBC News that the minister is involved in the disputeand has been for weeks.

Bolduc is on vacation and could not be reached for comment.