When Jesse LeGallais learned the aging Halifax school his children attend was going to be replaced, he said it was a necessary change.

He was concerned about various issues at St. Joseph’s-Alexander McKay Elementary School, such as mold, rodent problems and temperature fluctuations in classrooms.

However, after the school temporarily closed on Monday due to basement flooding and heating problems, he now finds the situation “disconcerting.”

“It’s not ideal, to put it mildly,” the parent of two told the CBC radio show. Information morning.

The school reopened Tuesday and LeGallais said the Halifax Regional Education Center sent out a message that the basement remained closed, so some children were taking classes in the gymnasium instead.

With the school expected to be replaced by September 2025, LeGallais said he is increasingly frustrated with the process.

“It’s not good that building a school takes time. It’s not good that there is no communication. It’s not good that the (old) building is collapsing in many ways. And it’s not good that these interruptions were not at least reasonably planned for, “he said in an interview on Tuesday.

Waiting for the new school

The original a school replacement project was announced in 2018 and was expected to be completed by 2023. Since then, the project has been expanded to include a fourth floor, delaying its construction.

Last year it was announced that students and parents should wait another school year for their new school due to lack of materials, labor and equipment.

LeGallais said people will get tired of waiting, especially given the state of the current school.

“If a delay is announced again, all the air will be sucked out of the room for staff, students and parents. I think this school better be ready next fall,” he said. -he declared.

The new school is described in a project progress report as a “modern learning environment, full of natural light, maximizing use of the existing site”. However, after so many delays, LeGallais is unsure if the space will be ready for the next academic year.

“At this point, no one is very confident.”

New schools announced

Information morning contacted the Ministry of Education and the Halifax Regional Education Centre, but neither agreed to an interview. HRCE said parents would hear again about the project in December.

The Ministry of Education announced last week it would build three replacement schools in Bedford, Dartmouth and the Armdale neighborhood of Halifax.