By Julie Parrish

December 1, 2011

The future of an aging school, hundreds of students, and the city's only all-grade French Immersion program were the focus of a Catholic School Board meeting Wednesday night.

About 650 students are currently in the Kindergarten to Grade 12 French Immersion program at J.H. Picard School.

The school needs millions of dollars in upgrades, and doesn't have funding from the province.

Now, the Catholic School Board is looking at two options:

One involves partnering with the City of Edmonton, and building a new school with a replacement program for Grades 7 to 12 as part of a recreation complex in the Meadows neighbourhood in southeast Edmonton.

Another option is to phase out French Immersion programs at St. Francis Xavier School and Archbishop O'Leary School, and start a new program at Archbishop McDonald.

Some parents believe the school board is focused on closing the school, and not considering upgrading it.

"They say that no closure has been announced, they have not made a decision," Parent Judith Frank said Wednesday. "Because they don't see that as an option, the parents are lead to think that it is closing,

"That is really unfair; it's really unfair to this community."

"The decision will be based on the opinion of everyone and those parents who live in the J.H. [Picard] attendance area," Assistant Superintendant of Edmonton Catholic Schools Boris Radyo said. "A French Immersion program will be provided for them, and if necessary, transportation will be provided to that program."

Councillor Kerry Diotte told CTV News education isn't the only factor in the issue – preserving the neighbourhood is important as well.

"We as a city always talk about trying to preserve old neighbourhoods, mature neighbourhoods," Diotte said. "And we're standing by and watching this happen,

"I don't think it's a good idea at all."

The Catholic School Board has not considered a motion to close J.H. Picard so far.

Three thousand surveys will be distributed to parents next week, and a report on the results will be due at the end of January.

With files from Laura Tupper

Source: ctvedmonton.ca