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George Sweeney, MHA for the District of Carbonear - Harbour Grace, says
parents of students in Carbonear who attended St. Joseph’s school are
questioning why government has intervened in a dispute between parents and
the school board in Exploits District, but not to save a community school in
Carbonear. "I, along with the concerned parents in this region, have been
fighting the school board ever since this issue was first raised by the
board," said Sweeney. "Education Minister Tom Heddersen took action in
central Newfoundland while a by-election was ongoing, yet his office has
taken no action in this situation where a school was closed and students
forced to go outside the community.
"We had no success dealing with the Premier or Minister Ottenheimer when
he was Education Minister because government said they had no input into the
operations of independent school boards. Following the political
interference in the situation facing students of Leo Burke Academy in
Bishop’s Falls, the parents and students in Carbonear now believe changes
are possible.
"The situation in Carbonear is one that needs the attention of the
Minister immediately. St. Joseph’s and Davis Elementary are both inadequate
facilities that are not capable of meeting the future needs of the students.
It is time that the school board and government dealt with this issue
properly. The only real solution in this case is the one I have pushed for
several years, building a new school in Carbonear to replace the existing
facilities.
"The decision by government to overrule the board in central is obviously
a political decision made in the middle of an election campaign. The
government made many such promises during the last provincial election only
to break them upon taking office. The parents and students in Carbonear only
expect the same treatment from the Minister of Education for their
community.
"I am now calling on Minister Hedderson to become involved and
re-evaluate this decision to close St. Joseph’s. If the Minister is willing
to intervene during a by-election in Exploits District, he can certainly do
the right thing for the people who live in Carbonear - Harbour Grace
District."
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