School overcrowding fix can't be delayed, meeting told

Parents who gathered at the P.E.I. Public School Branch's first meeting to discuss the review of the Colonel Gray family of schools heard some of the issues faced by Island schools are immediate.

About 80 people attended the meeting Wednesday evening at Spring ParkElementary.

It was part of a series of consultations to review school utilization in the province. Many schools are under-utilized and some are overcrowded, and the Public Schools Branch is conducting the review with an eye to major rezoning and possible school closures for the next school year.

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Bob Andrews, school reorganization project manager for the Public Schools Branch, was asked if the process was being rushed. Andrews said some of the problems need to be addressed before the next school year starts.

"If we're going to delay some solutions, the overcrowding one is not one we can delay," he said.

"Stonepark is in a situation where it's overcrowded now, they're getting more students next year. They've accommodated the students this year but they can't accommodate any more."

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StoneparkIntermediate, in Charlottetown, has a capacity of 810 students with 908 currently enrolled.

Keeping an eye on change

Karma McCallum has three children at West Royalty and one at Queen Charlotte.

She wants to know where the new lines are going to be drawn as soon as possible.

"I've actually done my research and checked what schools score on the Grade 3 literacy/numeracy tests and the Grade 6 and the Grade 9," said McCallum.

"I like the schools we're at, so I'm currently shopping for a house in the school zone I'm in, so I'd be interested to know what the school lines are to make sure I stay in my school zone."

Vanessa Ford has three children at West Royalty Elementary School, and is a member of the local Home and School Association.

She recognizes the review might mean a change of school for her children, but she's all right with that.

"I think it's going to benefit everybody across the Island, and I think it's about time something is finally being done," she said.

The school review consultations will continue Thursday with a meeting about Kinkora and Kensington family of schools.

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