Education minister committed to new French school, says process must begin in next 6 months

The province's education minister has doubled down on the promise for a new Francophone school in St. John's within the next five years.

Dale Kirby says the current five-year plan to house high school students at the former Holy Cross building will not end up being a permanent fix.

• Holy Cross to serve as 'temporary' French school
• French school board threatens court action against N.L. government

"It's not like we made a commitment for five years, and five years from now we're going to decide something," he told CBC/Radio-Canada. "We made a commitment that five years from now they'll have their facility."

The French school board threatened a constitutional challenge last fall, saying itsspace atL'coledesGrand-Vents was too small and the school was "grotesquely underfunded."

Students from Grades 7-12 moved this year, taking over the former Holy Cross Junior High School.

Province is far from construction

A new school must first be passed through the next budget, or approved by the province's treasury board and cabinet. Thenbegins the process of acquiring land and issuing tenders.

From his experience, Kirby said it takes fouryears to open a new school meaning the clock is already ticking on his promise to theConseilscolairefrancophone provincial de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador (CSFP).

"This process will have to be started within the next six months in order to open the doors," Kirby said.

Over the last several years, overcrowding became a growing issue atL'coledesGrand-Vents with students from K-12crammed into one place.

• 'A bad move': Parents question plan to transfer French students to Holy Cross

Moving from the building was not popular with all parents and students, but KimChristianson, theCSFP'sdirectorof education, said the schoolwas not designed for older students.

"[L'cole des Grand-Vents] is not made for students that are at the senior level," she told CBC/Radio-Canadain May."The gymnasium is not the full size for a high school.There are no science labs."

The decision was made to move the high school students to the building that once housed Holy Cross Junior High on Ricketts Road. The building is owned by the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of St. John's.

The Department of Education,CSFP and the Catholic church reached a five-year agreement for use of the school.

Kirby said it is now on him to ensure the deal does not need to be extended.

"No pressure," he said with a laugh."But it is my responsibility to bring this forward and be successful."