Ste Anne, La Broquerie school libraries shrunk to make classrooms

Bookshelves will be replaced by desks in Ste Anne and La Broquerie as schools try to find classroom space wherever they can.

Seine River School Division (SRSD) is still waiting on details from the Province for Ste Anne’s new vocational high school. It also has another expansion at Arborgate School in La Broquerie on its capital plan for the next few years.

But in the meantime, the schools are full and a solution needed to be found. That means two temporary classrooms will be set up in each school’s library.

That also means the before and after school childcare program run by Children of the Universe Learning Centre in the Ste Anne complex’s library needs to find another place for kids to go for next school year.

Children of the Universe put out a call to the public on social media asking for help to find a new space for the program.

Its letter dated June 17 reads that it is working with the province to license 20 before and after school spaces in its Kids at Play location that now takes care of kindergarten students when they are not in class during the school day.

It adds that it is seeking another space to make sure kids have a place to go in case it is unsuccessful due to capacity limits and licensing requirements. Centre of the Universe said remediation efforts at its main location on Centrale Avenue makes that an unviable option for now.

“It’s not ideal by any means because we have two massive, beautiful libraries that are used daily. But at this point we don’t have any other options,” SRSD superintendent Colin Campbell told the school board at its June 24 meeting.

Both Ste Anne and Arborgate’s libraries will still be open, but it will be a tighter squeeze and noise may become a factor for those looking for a quiet space.

The classroom walls would also be moved out once a new school in Ste Anne and addition in La Broquerie are built.

“They will be customized, foldable walls that do have a sound barrier in them,” explained Campbell at the meeting.

The shape of the ceiling in Arborgate means the walls will allow sound through.

“It will be challenging for noise. I’ve had a conversation with the principal there to maybe select the classes wisely,” said Campbell.