A battle over secular education in Morinville that has been drawn out for more than a year is finally over. On Wednesday evening, the Alberta government announced that students in the region will finally have access to public education similar to what is already offered elsewhere across the province.
"Children will have adequate and appropriate space for public education in Morinville come this September, this new school year. We will communicate what that space is to parents as soon as practicable," Minister of Education, Thomas Lukaszuk told parents.
What Lukaszuk calls the "best solution" is being pushed along by changing demographics in the town, since currently, less than 50 percent of the 1,700 students in Morinville are Catholic.
The new agreement will see the St. Albert Protestant separate school district be dissolved and replaced by a new public school board. Existing school boards will also change boundaries, with the Sturgeon school division expanding to include Morinville and become the public system, and potentially taking over one of the four Catholic schools in the community.
Liberal Education Critic, Kent Hehr, says he would've liked to see the decision come sooner.
"My complaint is not today's decision. My disappointment is this wasn't taken more seriously years ago."
Meanwhile, parents are excited they've been heard, but are still left wondering about certain details still up in the air - like where their children will be going to school, and when they can register.
"What does that actually mean, and when will we know. and of course, we're back to the waiting game, because we don't know," said Donna Hunter, one of the parents who led the movement for non-faith based education in Morinville.
The Minister of Education says those answers are coming soon, as the work to give parents both a voice and choice in their children's education continues.
With files from Ross Neitz, Global News
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