Parents say no to student relocation

Parents and students of Morell Consolidated, closed Friday due to mould contamination, told P.E.I.'s Eastern School District Tuesday night to revamp its relocation plans for the students.

Both Spring Park Elementary in Charlottetown and Morell Consolidated have been closed because of mould and air quality problems.

Three hundred people gathered at Morell High on Tuesday night to hear the school board's plans for the relocation of Morell Consolidated students. They told the meeting kindergarten to grade two would go to Mount Stewart, and grades three to eight would have their own wing in Morell High.

And the parents responded no.

"I have a child who is 10 and there is no way, no way he's attending Morell High School," said Belinda Murphy.

"He is not ready for drugs, sex, and alcohol."

  "I just can't imagine coming to the high school with people that are a lot older than me. It is a pretty scary place," said grade five student Bethany Parkhouse.

Support for a plan to send the students to St Peter's Consolidated, closed in June 2009, grew quickly.

"Whoever supports children, from grades 3 to 6 or even 1 through to 6 going to St. Peters, I think you should stand up," said Roy Coffin, as parents stood and applauded.

St. Peters would have room for most of the students, but Eastern School District superintendent Ricky Hood couldn't say if the plan was workable.   "I have to do a little bit of leg work. If I could have a day tomorrow, to sit, reflect, deal with our team as well and see what's possible," he asked.

Hood said changing the plans could mean another day out of school for the students, who are currently scheduled to return to class Tuesday.

The Eastern School District will meet again with parents, students and teachers of Morell Consolidated Thursday at 7 p.m. to announce the final decision.