The English Montreal School Board is trying to convince the provincial government to provide extra funding for children with special needs -- even as two schools for children with disabilities are being asked to merge.
Right now children who are visually impaired go to the Philip E. Layton school on Sherbrooke St. West.
But that building is owned by the MAB-Mackay Rehabilitation Centre (MMRC), which has told the EMSB it must move out the students at the end of the month.
It is telling the board to move the students to another building it owns, the Mackay Centre, which is already home to students that have other disabilities.
Those kids included Justin Nakashima, who long fought a series of health challenges yet still managed to go to attend classes.
"We considered ourselves very lucky to adopt Justin from birth. At nine months the serious health problems began," said his mother Kathy.
"First they didn't think they would walk, then that he wouldn't be able to sit. Eventually he could only breathe lying down, he couldn't move."
"I was amazed that he was able to do it but the school made it possible," she said.
The EMSB says the children need a lot of resources, and is worried that the merged school won't have enough space.
"For a normal classroom, it's a lot of space. For these particular students it will not be a lot of space, said EMSB chair Angela Mancini.
There is an extra room available but the MMRC won't part with it, saying they need it for staff and functions.
The Mackay School will also likely be deprived of a library and pool therapy time will now be limited.
Parents have made a video appeal, and hope that along with a petition will get the attention of the MMRC and the Quebec government.
"We need an immediate intervention now because the children's last day is going to be June 30th,they've been evicted," said parent Joanne Charron.
"We're hoping that the Mackay rehab centre will understand that we need to put the needs of our clients ahead of anyone else, including sometimes staff," said Mancini.
