New Brunswick students head back to school

Thousands of students are heading back to school across the province this week.

The last few weeks have been filled with excitement for some students who are heading back to class in a new school.

• PHOTO GALLERY: Back to school photos
• New francophone school opens on Fredericton's northside

Premier Brian Gallant said in a news release on Monday thathis government has invested themost in education in the history of the province by increasing the education budget by $33 million.

"Our goal is to create a world-class education system that is consistent throughout the province. Regardless of where in the province a family is raising their children, their kids will have equal opportunity through education," he said.

The newest school in the province is nowcoleLesclaireurs, which opened on Tuesday in Fredericton.

About 300 children from kindergarten to Grade 5 will start their education this year at anew school on Fredericton's northside.

While there is excitement in Fredericton, there has been controversy in the Saint John area.

TheBrown's Flat and Lorne Middleschools remain closed as parents try to have them reopened.

Zo Watson, the superintendent for Anglophone South School District, issued a statement lastTuesday saying the district is still planning on having thestudents attend their new schools.

A group of parents bent on keeping the school open took the provincial government to court on Friday to make sure their school remained open.

But Justice Darrell Stephensontold the parents to send the students to their new schools, while the case works its way through the courts.