New Saint John School Would Have A ‘Transformative’ Impact On City Centre
SAINT JOHN – A new school in the city centre would have a large impact on the culture and economy of the area, says an architect from a Boston firm hired to help design a new building to replace Prince Charles and St. John the Baptist/King Edward School.
Laura Wernick from HMFH architectural firm in Boston was in Saint John Tuesday night for a public presentation and conversations about a potential new school for the neighbourhood.
Wernick’s award-winning firm focuses mainly on designing schools, the focal point of neighbourhoods and communities. The proposed school would have natural lighting, creative learning spaces, community services and resources, and public gathering spots that would make it a year-round neighourhood hub.
“The school creates a heart for the community, a centre-piece that becomes a source of pride,” said Wernick in an interview. “It becomes a gathering place, where people access resources and services. It strengthens the community. The stronger the community, the stronger the school; the stronger the school, the stronger the community.”
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The proposed school has not yet been approved by the province, but the idea has broad-based community support. The Central Peninsula School task force includes representatives from the Business Community Anti-Poverty Initiative (BCAPI), LivingSJ, Horizon Health, the parent support committees from Prince Charles and St. John the Baptist, education officials and the municipal government.
Around 200 people came to the public meeting Tuesday night at St. John the Baptist school, including politicians from all three levels of government. Provincial Education minister Dominic Cardy spoke to the assembled crowd and said the community support was critical for the project, even though the province has not yet decided to build it.
Revitalizing the city centre residential neighbourhoods is a priority for the groups involved in this project. Wernick says they recognize the role schools play in creating vibrant communities.
“Having a strong school is one of the most significant things a community can do to support itself,” she said. “It creates a level of stability and encourages investment. It’s glue that ties so many of the other social and economic concerns and potentials together.”
Wernic says the stakeholder groups will help get the school built, but they are also critical to its long-term success.
“Having people engaged during the design process, including members of the business community, gives them ownership of the project,” she said. “They’re seeing their ideas [implemented] and then they support the project as it becomes reality. When the kids are there, they continue to be involved because it’s theirs, they have ownership of it…They’ll continue to support the school, the families and the community into the future because they have skin in the game.”
A Saint John councillor says a new K-8 school in the central peninsula is a must for the community. David Hickey, a Ward 3 councillor, says a new school would be “transformative.”
“The design of the school, the proposition of building not only a school but a community hub, is huge and completely transformative for both the south end and the community as a whole,” said Hickey. “Given the conditions of our current schools, physically, I think it is a must.”
The Anglophone South School District has made the new school its top priority, which Hickey said highlights the need, but the provincial government has yet to set aside funding for it.
Hickey said with a projected surplus for this year, he is sure the province can make it a priority.
“It has to be, it has to be for our community and it has to be for the central peninsula as a whole,” he said.
“We’ve seen substantial growth in the uptown, south end and Waterloo Village, but we need that transformative catalyst that is something like a new school.”
With files from Brad Perry, news director at Country 94, an Acadia Broadcasting radio station. Acadia is a Huddle content partner.