The redistribution of school catchment areas in the Lairet sector in Quebec's Limoilou district has sparked an outcry. Parents are mobilizing to prevent several students from being transferred to two primary schools further away.
The parents of the Sainte-Odile school learned this week that the territory of their school will be changed to expand the catchment area of the Saint-Paul-Apôtre school, which will be expanded in the coming years.
According to the map presented by the Capital School Service Center during an information session this week, students living between Avenue du Colisée and Avenue des Cerisiers could be moved to the Saint-Paul-Apôtre school on 8th Avenue. Others will be transferred to Saint Albert School instead.
1.5 km to the school
For Julie Poisson, this change means that her six-year-old daughter now has to walk almost 1.5 km every day instead of continuing to attend the Sainte-Odile school, which is a street corner from the house.
“This is the worst situation […]“This makes it very difficult to get around on foot,” she complains, even though there is no school transport in the area.
Ms. Poisson, who sits on the Lairet neighborhood council, has difficulty explaining this decision, which she says leads to “glaring inconsistencies” and “clear injustices.”
Parents fear that this redistribution will not be enough to respond to the arrival of newcomers to the sector and are instead calling for the expansion of the Saint-Odile school or the takeover of the Quatre-saisons regional school, a technical school nearby.
For her part, Limoilou city councilor Jackie Smith reiterates that the situation is “extremely disappointing” while the city of Quebec is investing significant sums in promoting active travel and local services.
“Children are people, they are not suitcases that can be moved so easily,” she says.
Upcoming consultation
At Capital School Service Center, we say we are “aware of the concerns” this reallocation may pose for families.
A consultation on these changes will take place from the end of January to mid-March, which will allow the governing boards of the affected schools to give a detailed opinion on the issue, it said.
“We strongly encourage parents and all those affected to take part in the discussions,” says their spokeswoman Marie-Claude Lavoie.
The final decision will be announced at the end of May, she added.
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