Quebec blasts EMSB plan to move special need students

The Quebec government is opposingaplanto movethe Galileo Adult Education Centre in Montreal North, which would have freed up space for anovercrowded Frenchschool board.

But howthe province will ease pressure on the bursting-at-the-seams Pointe-de-l'Ile school board (CSPI) is still aquestion that needs to be resolved, said Angela Mancini, chair of the English Montreal School Board (EMSB).

Quebec Education Minister Jean-Franois Robergetold the EMSB back in January to find 156 additional classrooms for the CSPI by the start of the2019-2020 school year.

In an April 8 statement, the EMSB said movingits Galileo centre was a possible solution.

Thatwould haveprovided the CSPI with 82 additionalclassrooms. The EMSBplanned to holdpublic consultationson the proposalin May.

The prospect, though, of moving Galileo sparkedoutrage from parents and students, who worried about the impact on students with special needs.

Last week, Robergeexpressed his displeasure at the idea of forcing the special-needs students into a new home. He reiterated his opposition on Tuesday.

"It's a mistake to even think that they can move those children," the education minister told reporters in Quebec City.

Roberge said he plans to meet with both school boards in the coming days to explore other options.

EMSB promises to consult public

Mancini agreed thatthe 140 special needs students at the centre, which has 700 students in all,are particularly vulnerable.

With theGalileomove now off the table,Manciniis promising to consult the public before any new proposals aremade.

"I think if we're going to bring about change, we need to speak to people about it," she told CBC Montreal's Daybreak onTuesday.

"I think our stakeholders, our parents, will come to us and we'll probably get some good ideas from them. I think it's really important that we speak to them at this time."

Mancinisaid she will not makeany firm suggestions when it comes to solving the CSPI's space needs. The EMSB community is ready to help, she added, but it's not clear what can be done.

"I think there is a realwillingness to help," she said. "How is that going to be done? Well, the devil is in the details."

CSPI's spokesperson did not immediately respond toa request for comment.