Island family plans to move after being denied school rezoning transfer

An Island mother says she plans on moving her family so her daughter can continue to attend Georgetown Elementary School after she was denied a transfer again amid school rezoning.

• Mother fights to keep child with health issues in same school amid rezoning

Jenny MacKinnon had requested that her daughter Maria stay at Georgetown Elementary because she believes it's best for the health of her eight-year-old daughter, who has a form of epilepsy.

MacKinnon also put in a request for her four-year-old son entering kindergarten to attend the same school so her children could be together, and that has also been denied.

MacKinnon's children were rezoned to attendCardigan Consolidated School for next year. Rezoningis part of the extensive review of Island schools in the past year to address overcrowding and under utilization.

Final appeal denied

MacKinnon said her family received an email this week informing them of the news.

MacKinnon made a final appeal at a hearing to an independent board last month where she showed a note from her doctor suggesting staying at Georgetown Elementary would be best for Maria's health.

She had already been previously denied when she appealed to the Public Schools Branch.

"Really frustrated," she said of how she feels about the decision. "I think all needs of kids should be looked at. Not just like, not just a doctor's note but like anything really like all my support, all my help, everything is in Georgetown.".

Plans to stay with grandparents in Georgetown zone

If the family hasn't found a new home permanently in Georgetown by the time the school year starts, MacKinnon plans to have her two chidlren live with her parents in the Georgetown school zone so they can attend the school in September.

"All over a four-minute transition," said MacKinnon. "There's four minutes difference between where I want to go to school and where I'm supposed to go to school."

'I'm going to do whatever's best for my children'

MacKinnon said she's been frustrated by the process.

"I've been dealing with this since April and it's taken a toll on me, on my husband, on the kids and honestly I just I think the whole thing is pathetic," she said.

"I'm going to do whatever's best for my children and that being said doesn't matter where it takes us we're going to, we'll be attending that school."

Public Schools Branch confident needs can be met at new school

The Public Schools Branch doesn't comment on specific cases. It does say it's confidentMaria's needs can be met at Cardigan Consolidated School. The branch says every case is judged on the same criteriaand the rules around transfers are more stringent since the review of Island schools in the past year.

"It's unfortunate that this process has meant many students and many families have had a change in their school community that they didn't anticipate happening and I think we will as families and as school communities get through this. We will rebuild and create new bonds," said Julia Gaudet,director of students services for the Public Schools Branch.

Since families have been informed of rezoning there have been233 applications to date for transfers. 63 have been approved and 143 have been denied. 27have been withdrawn or are pending an outcome or theapplication wasn't complete and the PSB is waiting for resubmission.

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