Parents in Grand Bay-Westfield have formed a task force with the hopes of getting the area on the provincial shortlist for a new elementary school.
The area is currently serviced by Inglewood School and Grand Bay Primary, which the community-led group says are not up to snuff.
“They fall well short of provincial standards in multiple areas,” said parent Brittany Merrifield. “We have poor-to-no access, not just trying to get in the building but getting around. Neither school has a proper gymnasium. There’s no music room or library.”
Merrifield says the area had moved up and down the province’s shortlist for capital infrastructure work. She says the group’s goal is to get back into the conversation.
“I would say the majority of the people involved in this task force, their personal children will not benefit from this, but we see this as a benefit to the community,” said Merrifield.
The group began holding virtual meetings earlier this year, and is currently working to put together its action plan on how to proceed.
In the meantime, they’ve been inviting community members of different backgrounds to help build the case for a new school.
“We have invited stakeholders with all types of expertise to the group, because they all will play an important role in advocating for the future of the children in the community,” said Merrifield.
“We want to reinforce our region’s engagement in this issue, and we want to work toward having our voices heard.”
