Those lobbying for a new K-8 school in the south central peninsula of Saint John were disappointed when the funding didn’t come in the Higgs government’s capital budget last week.
The school would replace two schools: Prince Charles and St. John the Baptist-King Edward.
Rob Fowler, chair of the Anglophone South District Education Council, said both schools are aging facilities that provide valuable services to the community.
“We want to ensure that we build something that maintains all those services that we provide through the school and builds on that,” Fowler said.
Fowler said a new school would bring a lot to the community.
“You just have to look at some of the programs that are offered through the existing two schools and the services we provide. It’s almost been described sometimes as a community centre with a school attached,” Fowler said.
Fowler said it’s disappointing to see funding hasn’t come through yet.
“I thought this was a slam-drunk proposal given the support we had in the community from Living Saint John, BCAPI, the Mayor, councillors, all of our business partners in the PALS program, MLAs, MPs, you name it, everybody is behind this,” Fowler said.
Fowler says the supporters recognize what a gamechanger having a new school would be, not just for the students but for the community too.
He said with the project second on the list for next year and the government building one school a year, this project’s approval is still two years away.
Fowler adds the downside is some new priority could come up between now and then.
