BEACONSFIELD – The proposed mergers at the Lester B. Pearson School Board (LBPSB) have some parents at St. Paul and Sherwood Forest elementary schools angry.
In December, it was announced a merger between the two schools would turn them into a combined junior and senior elementary.
READ MORE: Lester B. Pearson School Board reveals plans to merge schools and close others
“I guess I’m most concerned with losing our English,” said Buffy Cummings, who has two daughters at St. Paul.
She pointed out that with the board’s decision to merge and close schools, the choices for parents are dwindling.
“I guess I’m worried about forced change,” Cummings told Global News.
WATCH: LBPSB mergers
As part of the merger, St. Paul students would spend an extra two years – Grades three and four – in French immersion.
The move is controversial enough that a petition has gathered almost 200 signatures, asking commissioners to rethink the plans.
READ MORE: Parents react to news of school closures at LBPSB
Chantale Cadieux, head of the St. Paul Parents Committee, insisted there are misconceptions about the merger and parents shouldn’t jump the gun.
“It doesn’t start tomorrow and there’s a merger committee made up of parents and teachers,” she said.
“We already know that for children in Grades 3 and higher, there’s no change.”