Hundreds of French immersion students in the Simcoe County District School Board are going to be relocated.

School board trustees gave approval to a proposal on Wednesday night that will see grade five to eight students moved from Hillcrest Public School to Portage View Public School in Barrie.

In Orillia, grades one to four at Regent Park Public School will now attend Harriett Todd Public School.

“Transitions are difficult for children, but I think what makes it even more difficult is where you have multiple children. So in our situation it will mean we have three different children at three different schools,” Ewelina Chwilkowska, a parent said.

The board says the move is a result of the popularity of the program. Back in 2013, only about 400 first grade students were enrolled in French immersion. That has since quadrupled.

“There's no more space for French students to move in. So in order to accommodate new students who want to take French, we have to split the program up into two community schools,” says Peter Beacock, SCDSB board chair.

Students will begin the transition in September.

Hundreds of French immersion students in the Simcoe County District School Board are going to be relocated.

School board trustees gave approval to a proposal on Wednesday night that will see grade five to eight students moved from Hillcrest Public School to Portage View Public School in Barrie.

In Orillia, grades one to four at Regent Park Public School will now attend Harriett Todd Public School.

“Transitions are difficult for children, but I think what makes it even more difficult is where you have multiple children. So in our situation it will mean we have three different children at three different schools,” Ewelina Chwilkowska, a parent said.

The board says the move is a result of the popularity of the program. Back in 2013, only about 400 first grade students were enrolled in French immersion. That has since quadrupled.

“There's no more space for French students to move in. So in order to accommodate new students who want to take French, we have to split the program up into two community schools,” says Peter Beacock, SCDSB board chair.

Students will begin the transition in September.