New School for Glace Bay, Renovations for Sydney Area

Glace Bay will get a new junior high school and $24 million in renovations will rejuvenate seven Sydney area schools.

The work is part of a series of multi-year investments to improve and build schools for Nova Scotia's students.

"Nova Scotia's students need quality learning environments where they can grow to their full potential and contribute to their communities," said Economic Development Minister Cecil Clarke, on behalf of Education Minister Angus MacIsaac. "A new junior high and the major renovations we've committed to seven other schools will serve students in the Sydney area well into the future."

Construction will begin on the $13 million Glace Bay Junior High in 2005-06. It will serve 700 students when it opens in 2008-09.

The 51,654 square foot school will have 21 classrooms, two science rooms, a general science lab and a learning support classroom. It will also have visual arts, music and drama rooms and areas for technology education and family studies.

The school will also have a library, cafeteria, space for a teen health centre and a 6,500 square foot gym.

"Our school board has worked with the Department of Education through this process and we're pleased that our top three priorities are being met," said Myrtle Campbell, member of the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board for Glace Bay and surrounding areas. "The new school and the renovations will add value to our students' educational experience."

The school board is also receiving more than $24 million in renovations to seven other schools. Renovations include additional classrooms, new and improved cafeterias and gyms, and building upgrades such as windows, doors and roofs. The schools are:

• Cusack School, Sydney
• Donkin Complex, Donkin
• Riverview High School, Coxheath
• St. Agnes Elementary School, New Waterford
• St. Anne's School, Glace Bay
• Sydney Academy, Sydney
• Sydney River Elementary School, Sydney River

School boards submit their priorities for new schools and renovations to the Department of Education. The department asks a capital construction committee to review the board priorities in order to develop a provincial priority list. The committee includes representatives from the Nova Scotia School Boards Association and the departments of Education, Finance, and Transportation and Public Works.

NOTE--Following is a list of renovations at the seven Sydney area schools:

• Renovations at Cusack School will begin in 2007 and be completed in 2011. The $3.75 million renovation includes a two- storey addition for eight classrooms, technology learning space, washrooms, and space for storage, and mechanical and electrical systems. The school will also get a new music room, cafeteria and classroom technology upgrades.

Cusack's library, learning support, administration and student services areas will be reconfigured. A bus loop will be added and parking and play areas will be enhanced. The school will also get better storage, upgrades to interior and exterior finishing and new exterior doors.

• Renovations at Donkin Complex will begin in 2007 and be completed in 2010. The $1.6 million project includes building a connector from the school to the gym which is currently a stand- alone building remaining from an old high school. The school will also get fixture upgrades in showers and washrooms, a new radiation system, roof and doors and an upgrade to the exterior finish.

• A $4.1 million renovation will begin at Riverview High School in 2003. An unused, stand-alone building on the school property will be demolished. Classrooms and labs in the main school building will be re-configured and refinished. A new music room and space for a graphic art program will be added. There will be cafeteria and classroom technology enhancements.

Riverview's ventilation, pluming and electrical systems will be upgraded. The school will get new windows, more storage space and improved accessibility. The renovation will be completed in 2009.

• A $4.75 million renovation will improve facilities for students at St. Agnes Elementary and Mount Carmel Elementary. A stand-alone annex on the St. Agnes site will have a gym, music room, cafeteria, learning resources space, classrooms, library and other speciality areas added.

Once the renovations are complete, students from St. Agnes and Mount Carmel will move in. The main St. Agnes building will be demolished and Mount Carmel will close. The project will begin in 2008 and be completed in 2012.

• St. Anne's School will have a $4 million renovation. It will begin in 2007 and be completed in 2011. The school will get a new elevator and cafeteria. New reading recovery, learning resource, music and French instructional areas will be built. Classrooms will be reconfigured and have technology enhancements. There will be ventilation, plumbing and electrical upgrades, and new windows, doors and exterior finish.

• Sydney Academy will get $6 million in renovations to bring the school up to current standards. It will also get technology upgrades and a better music room. The renovations will begin in 2003 and be completed in 2009.

• Renovations to Sydney River Elementary School are already underway and will be completed in 2004. They include new windows, door systems, and upgrading the roof and interior finish. The school is getting $150,000 to complete these improvements.