Paradise councillors renew push for high school

Paradise needs a high school.

It’s a line you’ve likely heard once if not a dozen times the last number of years, especially if you’ve spoken to a councillor, taken in a public meeting, or read your local newspaper.

But councillors seemed concerned Tuesday that Premier Andrew Furey may not have heard, and so they’re bringing their concerns directly to him.

“I think we should, as a council, take this a step forward and send a letter to the Premier,” said Mayor Dan Bobbett following a round table discussion during this week’s meeting during which each member of council addressed the concern. “We know back when the English School District made their recommendation, Paradise was the recommended choice for a high school based on our numbers.”

Council was agreeable to Bobbett’s idea.

The topic has been discussed in council chambers and with the media time and time again over the years, particularly since council was apparently blindsided some months back by the provincial government’s decision to build a new high school in Portugal Cove-St. Phillips, home to the premier and his school-aged children, despite Paradise being at the top of the list for a new high school.

Paradise boasts four elementary schools and an intermediate school that just opened recently.

Council met with MHA’s Paul Dinn and Sarah Stoodley, both of whom represent Paradise residents, Monday night to discuss the matter behind closed doors.

Bobbett said it was a good meeting, and that Dinn said he would support a study while Stoodley said she would advocate for a new school.

The mayor expressed disappointment that MHA David Brazil, whose district of Conception Bay East— Bell Island encompasses part of Paradise as well as the Town of Portugal Cove-St. Phillips, did not attend.

“It was very unfortunate that MHA Brazil could not be there, because I had some questions, I wanted to ask him as well about the school going in his district, but we won’t go there tonight,” said Bobbett, who added council will be holding the members’ feet to the fire.

“It’s time for a school to be put in Paradise,” said councillor Patrick Martin. “We’ve been waiting a long time, I’ve been on council almost 10 years, and others have been talking about it long before I was around. My kids are growing up now, and my first is about to graduate high school — I thought he would be attending a high school in Paradise by now.”

Deputy Mayor Kim Street encouraged residents to lobby government for a new school.

“I thought it was a good conversation, and council was able to articulate very well our position again on the importance of having a high school in the town,” said Street. “I’d like to mention that it is still very important for parents and guardians to reach out to MHAs Dinn, Stoodley, and Brazil, asking them to send a letter to government requesting a new high school.

Councillor Deborah Quilty, who has been a member of council nigh on three decades, said the need for a high school goes way, way back.

“I would certainly encourage all parents and caregivers to lobby the provincial government,” said Quilty. “And I’m sure as a council we will certainly not drop the ball on this one.”

Councillor Glen Carew also encouraged residents to lobby for a new school.

“Paradise has the highest need of any municipality in the province based on the numbers, based on how many kids get on the bus every day,” said Glen Carew. “I was one of those kids many, many, many, many years ago. I don’t want to belabour the conversation but it’s also clear that unless residents lobby all three MHAS in our district, MHAs Brazil, Dinn, and Stoodley, we’re not going to get any major traction on this.”