French school plans 2 new classrooms

P.E.I.'s French Language School Board says it's going ahead with plans to expand its Summerside school despite a shortage of funding from the province.

Last week, the province said it would give École-sur-Mer $175,000 to build one new classroom and suggested it be for kindergarten.

But at a news conference Friday, the board said it's building two new classrooms.

One for kindergarten and one for a new Grade 7 class, and the board thinks it can still convince the government to provide more.

"We're looking at working with our partners, with the other stakeholders in the community," said Emile Gallant, a French school board member.

"But our first objective is to try to convince the Department of Education to fulfill its role and build that eighth classroom that is needed."

More than a year ago, the French board started lobbying for money to expand the school to Grade 9, up from Grade 6, starting with the addition of Grade 7 this September.

Currently, students who want to continue their French education after Grade 6 have to travel to Abram - Village — 25 kilometres down the road.

So most of them transfer to a closer English school instead.

"Because we live in Kensington, it would be too far for my children to go to Evangeline," said parent Suzanne Singer.

"My son's only in Grade 3, but I was always thinking of the future, about what I'd have to do come junior high and senior high," said another parent, Tina McInnis.

One classroom short

This year the French school ran into another issue.

When kindergarten moved into the public school system this year, École-sur-Mer was left one classroom short.

So all year, Grades 4 and 5 have been sharing a classroom.

Education Minister Doug Currie said government can't afford to hand over money for a Grade 7 class too, not while it's trying to deal with issues like mould in some other schools.

"This capital budget process — there's no more money to École-sur-Mer — I want to be frankly honest and clear on that," Currie said Friday.

But the French board thinks it can convince government to give more money and isn't ruling out a court challenge.

"It is our roll and our job as a school board as identified in the school act and by the Supreme Court of Canada that we must supply French education when it is requested by the parents. And when the numbers justify it," said Gallant.

Gallant acknowledged that however the board comes up with the money, it will have to act fast to have two new classrooms built by September.