Parents anxious for school closure details

Parents and students at two P.E.I. schools closed by mould contamination are anxious to learn how the move will affect their lives for the next several months.

'None of this was communicated to the parents.' — Ghassan Kassouf

Morell Consolidated and Charlottetown's Spring Park School have been closed indefinitely, and almost certainly for the remainder of the school year.

Eastern School District officials said they hope to find space for the students in other schools by Jan. 18.

The closures have left parents scrambling.

"I think the most difficult thing will be parents, that both parents are working, and they'll have to find child care for the next week," said Owen Parkhouse, president of the P.E.I. Home and School Federation, who has a child at Morell Consolidated.

The closure is particularly disruptive for 11-year-old Joseph Kassouf, who just moved to Spring Park for Grade 6 in the fall and now must move again.

"I kind of feel nervous and sad," Joseph said. "This year I was expecting to finish."

Joseph, one of the best players on the Spring Park chess team, said he worries the team won't continue if members are spread across several schools.

Kassouf's father, Ghassan, said the school board could have done a better job informing parents about the potential trouble while testing was being done.

"None of this was communicated to the parents," he said. "Even though we did have, not too long ago, parent-teacher interviews … we didn't know."  

Kassouf said he's happy the school district acted quickly, but he would have liked more warning to organize child care. He and his wife will both have to take time off work to stay home with their son this week.

He also wonders where his son's new school will be. Joseph has always walked to school, but this may change.

Parents are hoping for more details at information meetings for both schools Monday and Tuesday night.