Some parents in Miramichi are furious with the New Brunswick government over what they say is an ultimatum.
Mould found in a school gym is part of the issue, but parents say they are being forced to make a decision, without all of the information.
They called an emergency meeting Sunday night.
“They are frustrated because we asked them to come and take a look at this,” explains Eileen Bowes, chair of the Building a Future for our Children committee. “Nothing ever happened and it is their inaction that brings us to where we are today.”
The mould has been cleaned up, for the time being, but parents say estimates from the government on a permanent fix vary.
“First it was $30,000,” says parent Susan McLenaghan. “Then it escalated to $300,000, so with lack of information to make those decisions, that is where we stand right now.”
Two scenarios were laid out earlier this week at a meeting with the school district.
Students at Ian Baillie Primary moved to a middle school, but they’re without a gym for the time being.
“With no promises of fixing Ian Baillie,” explains Parent School Support Committee Chair Tanya Godfrey. “No promises of what is going to happen this year, they mentioned reconfiguration of grades, so I think that is a big fear among parents,”
Parent Lisa McNeil isn’t sold on the relocation plan.
“Because if they do move over to the middle school,” says McNeil. “They are going to bus those kids up the street, down to the playground over here. They will be wasting most of their time on the bus, quite honestly.
The Liberal MLA for the area was speaking in Saint John Sunday and spoke on the issue.
He says the education minister made a commitment on Friday.
“Assured me that she is going to travel up to Miramichi this week, probably tomorrow, I think,” explains Miramichi-Bay du Vin Liberal MLA Bill Fraser. “To meet with some of the parents and to actually go tour the school, so I am feeling really good about that.”
Organizers hope to reach some level of consensus from Sunday’s meeting with parents and faculty.
That information will be given to the school district and the minister of education.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s David Bell
