'Exciting day' for parents, teachers learning about new schools planned for P.E.I.

Parents, teachers and municipal leaders say they're excited about the recent revelationthat the provincial government plans to build three new schools on Prince Edward Island.

Finance Minister Jill Burridge tabled her 2025-2026 capital budgeton Thursday, which includes plans for a new junior high school in Stratford and two new elementary schools in Charlottetown, as well as a replacement for an existingschool in Georgetown.

"It certainly is an exciting day to be a Stratford parent," said Emma Ross, who has two children attending Stratford Elementary. She is also with Stratford Elementary's Home and School group.

"We do have 704 students here at Stratford Elementary, so it does logically make sense that they do have a junior high within our community, and our students canlive and learn within our community," Ross said. "(It's) badly needed."

Parents, teachers and the Town of Stratford 'ecstatic' about money budgeted for a new junior high

3 days ago

Duration 2:11

Two new schools in Charlottetown and a new junior high in Stratford are badly needed, says the P.E.I. Teachers' Federation. Parents and Stratford's mayor say the new junior high there is 'long overdue' and will make the town's education infrastructure complete.

The government said work will begin on the new Stratford junior high school in 2026-2027, two years earlier than initially announced. The province is budgeting $70.4 million over the next five years for theproject.

'Long overdue' junior high

"I'm ecstatic," said Stratford Mayor Steve Ogden. "It's long overdue. We really need it badly. A junior high will complete the picture for our educational infrastructure for the time being, and it will meet the needs hopefully into the future."

Construction is already underway on a new $79M high school in Stratford, part of a new community campus which will include a wellness centre.

"It's going to make us more of a complete town," Ogden said of the addition of a junior high, something the town has wanted a firm commitment on for years.

Burridge was a member of Stratford council when the idea of a junior high was first conceived.

Currently, students from the Stratford area travel over the Hillsborough bridge to Birchwood Intermediate School.

"I think the students do get more attention and more needs met when they do go to a school that isn't busting at capacity," said Ross.

Urgency to open schools quickly

The new elementary schools, one in East Royalty and one in West Royalty, will be built close to existing elementary schools. Eachwill cost more than $60 million and have room for 650 students.

The East Royalty school will be completed in 2028-2029, when work will begin on the one in West Royalty.

"With population growth over the last five years, investment in education is needed," saidAndy Doran, president of the P.E.I. Teachers' Federation.

With schools like Birchwood, Stonepark and East and West Royalty atcapacity, he said there's noroom for teachers to do anything that might be considered extra, such as resource and special planning.

"Anything they can do to get those schools open (as soon as possible), that'd be great," he said.