No boundary changes are coming for Anglophone East schools, but there will be some grade reconfigurations, after a vote by the Anglophone East District Education Council on Thursday night.

One affects a new West End school currently under construction, which was to house students in grades Kindergarten through grade 8.

Under the approved changes, starting in the 2024/25 school year, it will now open to students in grades 6 through 8 instead.

The District Education Council also voted to keep Bessborough School open for students in Kindergarten through grade 5, while students at Hillcrest will move to Bessborough.  This will take effect in September 2024.

DEC member Kristin Cavoukian is directly affected by these changes because these are schools that her children attend, but she admits there isn’t another option, “I wish there was another way but I am fully in support of these changes because I believe they are absolutely necessary.”

When that new school opens, it will be for students from Bessborough, Hillcrest, Edith Cavell and Evergreen Park Schools.

Riverview schools are also affected by changes that will effect in September 2023, but no boundaries will be affected as originally proposed which would have seen some students moved to Hillsborough Elementary and Caledonia Regional High Schools.

“For the 2023/24 school year, Riverview East will be reconfigured to a Kindergarten through grade five school. Grades 6, 7 and 8 students will attend Riverview Middle School,” Superintendent Randolph MacLEAN stated.

Changes were required to address enrolment challenges that were causing overcrowding at area schools. Over 18, 000 were enrolled in September, which was a drastic increase over predictions made in June. Enrolments have continued to climb each month of the current school year. Around 115 have signed up in the last month alone.

Public consultations were well attended as the District looked for feedback on the proposed changes.

Other recommendations that were approved last night by the Council include, adding more portables at Shediac Cape School, where the government has approved construction of a new school sometime in the next few years.

Portables will also be added at Lou McNarin School in Dieppe.

Also for the 2024/25 school year, Northrop Frye School in Moncton’s North end will also be converted to K to 4, and Maplehurst which is located in the same area, will be converted to a school for grades 5 to 8 students instead of starting in grade 6.