Burke Mountain families will finally hear something about construction of new schools in the fast-growing neighbourhood, including the long-awaited Smiling Creek elementary school.
But for now, School District 43 is being mum about details for a meeting planned for June 16, except to say a press release will be available then, and work is still ongoing on finalizing the plans.
“Unfortunately it has taken it this long to get all the parties at the table, and dot the I’s and cross the T’s,” said board chair Judy Shirra.
The province is reviewing plans, Shirra said, and an announcement should be ready by the mid-June date. “There will be an announcement if everything goes right for the ministry, I’m hoping we’ll have good firm information by then.”
The Future of Burke Mountain Schools meeting, planned for Tuesday, June 16 at 7 p.m. will be held at Leigh elementary in Coquitlam.
Parents in the area have been frustrated with what they say is an overly long wait for a new elementary school and have been lobbying the school district and other local politicians.
Bjoern Ossenbrink, who moved to Burke Mountain last year with his family, says he wants the district to explain why it has taken so long to get an elementary school built and why a secondary school is planned before a middle school.
“We want to see the open books about what has happened since 2010 to now, the community is growing,” Ossenbrink said, adding that he will have to move if proper timelines and construction aren’t in place to ensure his child has a safe, uncrowded school to go to.
“I’m not having my kids sit in a portable or a crowded school where the education will not be up to standard.”
A group has launched a website, a Twitter account and a Facebook profile to share news and information. The website schoolsforburke.com and #SchoolsForBurke was set up to share information and concerns about lack of schools in the new Coquitlam neighbourhood.
