Parents frustrated over possible Leo Hayes High School catchment change

The plan to move some kids out of Leo Hayes High School to rural schools to relieve crowding has parents frustrated. They are telling the school district it will mean fewer opportunities for their children.

Luke Anderson from Taymouth is one of those parents upset over the change. Anderson has a son at Leo Hayes High School, and two daughters at Devon Middle School.

"What parent is going to let their kid lose opportunities. It's a pretty competitive world out there."

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He's not sure if his son will be able to stay at Leo Hayes, or if he will have to go to Stanley High School.

"He might be able to stay, he might not be able to stay," said Anderson.

Anderson said that question was raised at an information meeting on Thursday night, but no one at the meetingwas able to give an answer.

He was told that if his child takes French immersion, he will stay at Leo Hayes because Stanley doesn't offer French immersion.

He added that there wasn't an official word on that either.

Less opportunity

Anderson said he's concerned about the lack of opportunity that will be available to his children if they have to go to a rural school.

"It's sad to say but the rural schools don't offer as much and that's what it boils down to. There's not as many numbers, not as many kids, not as many programs. Our kids go out this way, and they're losing a couple hundred programs, knocked back to 20 programs," said Anderson.

He said that the lack of varietycould cause students to lose interest in school. Because of that, the parents he has talked aren't welcomingachange.

"It's unified resistance. Nobody is going to go for it," said Anderson.