Queens County Schools Getting Renovations
PREMIER'S OFFICE/EDUCATION--Queens County Schools Getting Renovations
Three Queens County schools are getting a combined total of nearly $10 million in renovations.
The schools are part of a series of multi-year investments to improve and build schools for Nova Scotia's students.
"Renovations will make these schools ready to serve Queens County students for many years to come," said Premier John Hamm. "With the commitments we've made in the past week, young Nova Scotians across the province will be learning, growing and getting a good start at life in safe, healthy schools."
Premier Hamm made the announcement today, June 12, at North Queens Elementary/Rural High School in Caledonia.
The school is getting a $4.25-million renovation to replace its elementary wing, add fine arts facilities and enhance labs. The work will begin in 2003-04 and be completed in 2009.
The school's exterior finishing, plumbing fixtures and boilers and hot water system will be replaced. There will be upgrades in washrooms, windows and doors, fire protection, electrical and floors. The building will be made more accessible and the grounds will be improved.
A new wing will be added to Liverpool Regional High School to accommodate Grade 9 students from South Queens Junior High. The $500,000 renovation will add four new classrooms for these students.
South Queens will get a $4.8 million renovation to bring it up to current standards. The school's windows, doors, exterior cladding, floor and ceiling tiles, fixtures roof and chimney will be replaced. There will be washroom, ventilation, heating and electrical upgrades.
The work will begin in 2008 and be completed in 2011. The renovated school will take in Grade 6 students from Dr. John C. Wickwire Academy.
"These projects reflect the priorities our board has presented," said Wanda Broome, chair of the South Shore District School Board. "The work that will begin this year in North Queens will make a great difference to the school. The later work at South Queens and at Liverpool Regional High reflects our long-range plans, and will serve the students and communities well."
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 has representatives from the Nova Scotia School Boards Association, and the departments of Education, Finance, and Transportation and Public Works.