A number of parents in Morinville say they are frustrated after learning a new public school won’t be ready for students when it was expected to. A new, public, junior high has been approved for the area, but there’s disagreement over where to build it, and that’s caused delays.

In Morinville, the town’s only public school is at capacity, parents had been told a new $25 million junior high school would be open by 2017. However, that won’t happen now.

This week, parents received a letter saying plans for the new school had been suspended.

“It would be nice to feel like there are people fighting for us rather than just the parents fighting for our kids,” Parent Jennifer Anheliger said.

The news came after a number of parents in the community had fought for public education, voicing their frustrations for more than five years.

“It’s our right to have a public school for all our children and that we can’t get that, it’s pretty disheartening,” Anheliger said.

Public school was first brought in in 2012, a Catholic elementary school was converted into Morinville Public School – now, the school goes up to Grade 8, and will accommodate Grade 9 students next year.

“Yes, it’s busting at the seams, it’s a busy place,” Sturgeon School Division Superintendent Michele Dick said.

“Morinville is growing, and the community deserves to have schools to meet their public school needs.”

A year ago, the province announced plans would start for a new junior high.

A site was chosen, but a disagreement over whether the land was suited for a school held back the project. The provincial government has certain requirements that the Town of Morinville hasn’t met.

“For example, the arena that is attached to this particular site that we’re standing on, we’re unclear when it will be demolished,” Dick said.

The school division said it needs a new school urgently – as nine more portables are on the way to make room for more than 900 students expected at the school in September.

“The community deserves to have two public schools,” Dick said.

Now, a plan is in place for if a new school isn’t built soon – to transport students by bus to nearby communities, but that doesn’t sit well with parents.

“I don’t think any parent wants to see that they have to bus three different kids to three different communities just so that they can go to school,” Anheliger said.

The Mayor of Morinville wouldn't comment ahead of Tuesday's meeting over the issue.

With files from Kim Smith