New School to Replace Barrington Municipal High School

Students in the Barrington area are getting a new high school.

Education Minister Angus MacIsaac announced an $11.5 million replacement for Barrington Municipal High School today, June 11.

"The health and safety of the students and staff at Barrington Municipal High School have always been our top priority," said Mr. MacIsaac. "A new school for Barrington makes sense for students and teachers, makes sense for the community and makes sense for the taxpayer."

The existing high school has been studied extensively since a small number of students and staff began experiencing rashes and other symptoms in March 2002. The province conducted many air quality and environmental tests, began consulting with medical experts and undertook renovations and alterations to the school. Despite these efforts, an exact cause of the illnesses could not be determined.

"As the cost of renovations continued to increase, the gap between fixing the old school and building a new one narrowed to the point where it became obvious the best way to resolve the issue was to build a new school," said Mr. MacIsaac.

The new high school will accommodate 704 students in grades seven to 12 and will include an 8,400 square feet gymnasium, a 1,400 square feet music room and space for a teen health centre. Work will begin in the 2003-04 school year, with the new school open for classes in September 2005.

"Fixing the problem at Barrington Municipal High School was number one on our list of priorities," said Nancy Whittaker, chair of the Tri-County District Board. "This is good news for the health and well-being of the students and staff."

Students will continue to attend the existing school while the new facility is being constructed. Students entering Grade 7 in the 2003-04 school year will remain at their feeder schools, which will be given added resources to accommodate the extra students. Renovations and alterations to the existing high school are planned for this summer to make the building as environmentally healthy as possible.