Partner for Chignecto-Central Schools

Municipal-Armoyan Construction is the preferred partner to build new schools with the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board.

In making the announcement, Education and Culture Minister Robbie Harrison said today: "School construction is on target. We're now ready to build as quickly as Municipal-Armoyan can work with school boards and communities, and get the schools under way."

New schools for Chignecto-Central are: Enfield Elementary and Pictou Elementary. Project details and scheduling can now be discussed with the school board. At the same time, lease and financing arrangements will be finalized.

"I am pleased that the announcement has been made, and look forward to working with our partners to deliver these much-needed schools," said Elmer MacDonald, superintendent of the Chignecto-Central board.

A strength of the Municipal-Armoyan proposal includes a commitment to consult with communities and begin construction and open schools as soon as possible. As well, the proposal includes a solid financing package, demonstrating good value for money.
To quote the group: "We are prepared to invest our equity and management skills to develop your lifelong learning centres on time."

Team leaders in the Municipal-Armoyan Construction group include:
Municipal Enterprises, with Dexter Construction; the Armoyan Group; Rideau Construction, B.D. Stevens, and Maxim Construction; Harvey and MacKenzie, & Reider, Hymann Lobban, Designers; Deloitte and Touche, Meeks and DeJong & Associates, Technology.

Teams of school board and government representatives evaluated detailed proposals from a short list of partners. From Chignecto-Central, five school board staff and one board member participated on the evaluation team. Mr. Harrison thanked them for their time and commitment over the summer.

School board and community consultation will continue to be a strength in planning for all new schools. Leases will be based on a predetermined all-inclusive price covering construction, operating, maintenance and new technology costs for 20 years. This means stable, predictable costs for school boards, and risk-sharing arrangements consistent with recommendations by the auditor general.

Along with new school construction, the department is working with school boards on project details and scheduling of renovation projects to be carried out over the next three years.