Frustrated Burke Mountain parents will have to wait a few more months before learning what's happening with planned new schools in their neighbourhood.
But the school district promises area residents will get some news this spring.
On Wednesday, the school district issued a press release stating that progress had been made on acquiring land for schools on Burke Mountain but gave no specifics other than stating the issue is a district priority. It also stated that portables would be installed to handle increased enrolment at nearby Leigh and Irvine elementary schools.
A meeting was also promised for late spring but no date was given. Both board chair Judy Shirra and secretary treasurer Mark Ferrari said it could be in May if all the necessary approvals and paperwork were done on land acquisitions.
Five schools are needed on Burke Mountain and the district in the process of finalizing land assembly for Smiling Creek elementary and is also working on a middle school, two more elementary schools and a secondary school for the fast-growing community.
"There's a few things out of our control," Ferrari said. "It's hard to nail down the precise date at this time. If it's even earlier, we'd go earlier."
In October, the school district and Coquitlam announced they had an agreement on a land assembly and partnership on Smiling Creek elementary school.
Burke Mountain parents have been active raising the issue at a recent Coquitlam council meeting and by circulating a letter and setting up a Facebook page called "Where are the schools on Burke Mountain?"
Shirra, a Port Coquitlam trustee, said she sympathizes with parents but says the district has to go through a process and can't be more forthcoming about land issues until the deals are done.
"We're going to hold a public forum and we're going to let everyone see where we are with things and how we got there," she said.
"It's encouraging," said Coquitlam Coun. Craig Hodge, who lives on Burke Mountain and had been calling for a dialogue between the school board and parents on the topic of new schools.
Hodge decided not to pursue his notice of motion at Monday's council meeting because he had heard the board was already planning to hold a meeting once it had news to report.
"It sounds like we are continuing to move closer to getting those schools but also the residents and the school board are working together to have that meeting, and it's really good news," he said.
