There's been a hostage taking of sorts in L'Anse Au Clair, Labrador. What's being held hostage are computers and books. Parents won't let the School Board take them from the community.

St. Andrews School in L'Anse au Clair closed last year. Students are bused ten kilometers to Forteau. The students moved, but equipment inside their old school didn't. Inside St. Andrews thousands of dollars worth of computers and books. The school board wants to move them to the new school but the community has said no.

They blocked the road and doors to the school.

Calvin Letto

Several attempts were made to remove the equipment but residents stopped them. Calvin Letto, Protester: "The parents went out and got most of this equipment, and not given to the school, but on loan to the school, because we wanted the best education for our kids."

Parents in L'Anse au Clair say their kids are not getting that in Forteau. It's ironic, but it may be the actions of parents that's preventing that better education. The school's principal said he's not allowed to talk to us on camera but he did tell us his school needs those computers. As for the books, one teacher told us that in some grades up to three children have to share one textbook.

Grace Dumaresque's kids now go to school in Forteau. She's one of the protesters. She and other parents now have a court order telling them to stay away from the school.

Grace Dumaresque

"We don't want it to leave our school," says Dumaresque, "We want the School Board to reverse their decision and say yes we are going to reopen St. Andrews and the equipment will be there for our children to use."

The School Board discussed the L'Anse au Clair situation. All they could offer was a willingness to discuss parents' concerns. As for removal of equipment the board says with the injunction that's now a matter for the RCMP and the courts.