Funding is in place and planning is now underway to ensure there will be adequate space in all schools for the 1,400 kindergarten students who will enter the public school system this fall, says Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Doug Currie.
“This week Government approved funding of $2.1 million to add kindergarten classrooms at L.M. Montgomery, West Royalty, and Sherwood elementary schools,” said the minister. “The additional classrooms will address increasing enrolments at these schools due to the introduction of kindergarten and changing demographics.”
In the next six years, the number of students is expected to grow by 56 per cent at L.M. Montgomery, 31 per cent at West Royalty, and 12 per cent at Sherwood Elementary. These schools serve students from the greater Charlottetown area as well as students from many rural communities such as Brackley, Suffolk and Milton.
“Improving public education and renewing the early childhood sector in our One Island Community are key priorities of government,” said Minister Currie. “The transition of kindergarten to the public school system is one of the most significant advances in the history of our education system. With the assistance of many partners, planning to welcome kindergarten children to our schools in September 2010 remains on target.”
Minister Currie has met with several key educational partners since he was appointed minister. “I had a very productive discussion with the Eastern School District trustees this week about our common challenges and the opportunities that lay before us to improve education,” he said. “I offered the trustees my firm commitment and full support of their efforts to engage parents and partners in a process to improve programming, transportation and the assignment of students to schools.”