Parents may sue to get French school

A group of parents is considering launching a lawsuit to get New Brunswick to build a French school in the Kennebecasis Valley.

The parents are looking at filing a challenge under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, said spokeswoman Michelle Robichaud.

Francophone families who can't or won't send their children on the estimated 40-minute bus trip to the region's only French school in Saint John are in danger of assimilation, she explained.

A precedent exists, said Robichaud, as a similar challenge was successful in P.E.I.

"District 1 commissioned a report in August of this year and found that there were 605 school-age children who were eligible to attend a francophone school in the Kennebecasis Valley," she said.

"Currently, Samuel de Champlain, the only school in the region, is serving only 165 of those children."

High demand seen

The study supports the group's claim that there is a demand for French education in the fast-growing communities on the outskirts of Saint John, said Robichaud, who has young twin daughters.

The group would like to see a new French school for kindergarten to Grade 8 students.

Anne-Marie Leblanc, the District 1 superintendent who is responsible for francophone schools across southern New Brunswick, has said a new K-8 French school could open in the Kennebecasis Valley in 2012.

It's currently listed as the third priority for the district, behind a school for Moncton North and Sainte-Bernadette.

The Department of Education is aware of the request, said communications officer Hillary Casey.

"As part of the capital budget process, the minister must consider all of the priorities from every school district in the next capital budget. It is not possible at this time to comment on the capital budget until it has been completed in time for its release in December," she said.

"Nevertheless, the minister of education is always willing to meet with the parents of Kennebecasis Valley to discuss their concerns."

Meanwhile, a new satellite school of École Samuel de Champlain did open in the Kennebecasis Valley in September for kindergarten and Grade 1 students.

Some parents were hoping another grade would be added each year until a new school could be built, but this year's first graders will be moving back to Samuel de Champlain for Grade 2.