Renovations and Repairs for Nova Scotia Schools

More than 90 Nova Scotia schools will see building improvements this year. The Department of Education announced today, July 3, that it would invest $13 million in repairs and upgrades across the province for 2002-03.

"We have an approach that addresses the fact that more than 60 per cent of our schools are over 35 years old," said Education Minister Jane Purves. "The idea is to do the proper renovations at the right time to prevent costly deterioration and give our schools a longer life."

One portion of the funding -- $3 million -- addresses the immediate need for repairs at 44 schools, while $10 million is for 47 renovation and addition projects, many of which began last year.

The department introduced a multi-phased approach to allocating renovation and repair funding last year. Available funding is spread among more schools than in the past, when school repairs were addressed one at a time. The new approach allows the province to meet urgent priorities at several schools simultaneously and to reduce costs through bulk tendering.

The department consults with the seven school boards every year concerning priority repair needs, including additions, window replacements, roof replacement and plumbing and electrical upgrades.

In 2001, the department and the school boards identified $71 million in priority school renovations and additions projects. These are now being addressed through the phased approach.

Project work will be carried out by the Department of Transportation and Public Works and by school boards. Details on the projects will be announced in the coming weeks.

The recently announced renovation and upgrade of Sir John A. Macdonald High School has been addressed separately by the department and is in addition to the Halifax Regional School Board's funding allocation for this year.

The $10 million in renovations and alterations expenditures for 2002-03 is allocated as follows.

• Annapolis Valley Regional School Board: $1,850,000
• Cape Breton Victoria Regional School Board: $900,000
• Chignecto Central Regional School Board: $660,000
• Conseil scolaire acadien provincial: $4,550,000
• Halifax Regional School Board: $690,000
• Southwest Regional School Board: $925,000
• Strait Regional School Board: $425,000

The $3 million in repair expenditures is allocated as follows.

• Annapolis Valley Regional School Board: $343,000
• Cape Breton Victoria Regional School Board: $395,200
• Chignecto Central Regional School Board: $505,300
• Conseil scolaire acadien provincial: $76,700
• Halifax Regional School Board: $1,126,900
• Southwest Regional School Board: $357,200
• Strait Regional School Board: $195,700