EMSB says Pointe-de-l’Île school board won’t budge on school cohabitation as transfer deadline looms

After several days of negotiations, the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) says the Pointe-de-l’Île school board won’t budge on cohabitation — and now they want more.

“It appears right now that we have reached an impasse with the CSPI (Commission scolaire de la Pointe-de-l’Île),” said spokesperson Michael Cohen. “It’s going to be down to the wire. This is kind of unprecedented.”

At a special meeting on Wednesday evening, the EMSB said the French board now says that in addition to taking over the three English schools proposed by Quebec’s Education Minister Jean-François Roberge, it also wants to take over the Galileo Adult Education Centre.

The EMSB had previously offered to free up Galileo, in addition to cohabitation in Gerald McShane Elementary, John Paul I Junior High School and General Vanier Elementary.

Roberge gave the board until June 10 to come up with a solution to relieve the overcrowded French system before he transfers the schools himself.

WATCH: East-end Montreal English schools to be transferred to the overcrowded French school board

1:29 EMSB must transfer 3 schools to French board

“All options are open and it’s of great concern now because we’re coming down to the final day of school now, June 21,” Cohen explained.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

With only five days left before that deadline, parents are pressing the EMSB to take legal action.

“We have to fight,” said Lucia Bucca, whose daughter is slated to attend John Paul I next year. “Why do we have to give away something so important?” Bucca said while her eyes welled up.

The EMSB voted on its next move behind closed doors. It will be made public during the next council on June 12, after the minister has made his decision.

The Pointe-de-l’Île school board told Global News it will not comment on the private exchanges between itself and EMSB. However, it did confirm it is not open to cohabitation between Saint-Leonard schools.

“The special situation of Saint-Leonard means that cohabitation can not be a short-term solution because all our schools have already been enlarged to the maximum of the capacity of the land and due to the scarcity of space available for a new construction,” said the school board.

WATCH: EMSB parents and students form human chain around 7 schools

1:50 EMSB parents and students hold protest over school transfers

— With files from Global News’ Kalina Laframboise