Three New Schools For Halifax Area, Renovations Planned

EDUCATION--Three New Schools For Halifax Area, Renovations Planned

The province will build three new schools in the Halifax Regional Municipality and conduct renovations and upgrades at several others across the province, Education Minister Angus MacIsaac announced today, June 12.

"The new schools and capital improvement projects we're announcing today will make for better schools for thousands of young Nova Scotians," said Mr. MacIsaac. "They also demonstrate the province's long-term commitment to providing our students with the best learning environment possible, while being fiscally responsible to the taxpayer."

The largest project will be the construction of a new high school on the Halifax peninsula. The school will replace both St. Patrick's High School and Queen Elizabeth High School. Because of the ages of the buildings and the declining student populations, the two existing schools have become too expensive to operate and no longer meet the needs of students and teachers.

The new school will give students access to better classroom facilities, including an 8,400 square foot gymnasium, 4,800 square foot cafeteria and 3,000 square foot library. The building will also provide space for enhanced science labs and improved computer and industrial technology labs.

The school will have a projected enrolment of 1,200 students. Construction will begin in 2004 and should be completed by September 2006 at an estimated cost of $21 million.

"The Halifax Regional School Board is pleased that the province has agreed with our recommendation and announced a replacement school for St. Patrick's and Queen Elizabeth high schools," said David Driscoll, chair of the Halifax Regional School Board. "Both of these buildings have served the public education system well, with literally tens of thousands of students having attended one or the other. But their declining enrolments, combined with the state of each building, makes consolidation and replacement the only route to go."

The province will also invest $10 million to construct an elementary school on the Halifax peninsula. The new school will replace St. Mary's School, Inglis Street School, LeMarchant-St. Thomas School and the Beaufort School Annex. The new school's anticipated enrolment is about 700 students in grades primary to six. It will have a 5,240 square foot gym, a 1,750 square foot library and 1,200 square foot music room. Construction should begin in 2007 and the school will be open in September 2009.

A new school will also be built to replace the aging Waverley and L.C. Skerry Elementary schools in Waverley. The projected enrolment there is 325 students. The building will include a 3,250 square foot gym, a 1,200 square foot music room and a 1,300 square foot cafeteria. The project will cost $7.5 million. Construction will begin in 2007 to be completed by September 2009.

The three new schools are in addition to the previously announced $15-million Primary to Grade 9 school in Hammonds Plains which should be open in September 2005.

The province will also continue with its major renovation project at Sir John A. Macdonald High School in Hubley. The multi-phased project is expected to be completed by the 2006-07 school year and includes a new gymnasium, cafeteria/auditorium, a new classroom wing and larger classrooms. The estimated cost for that project is just over $10.5 million.

Mr. MacIsaac also announced other major renovation projects today for various schools in the province.

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

There will be $1.65 million spent on new school construction and $17.25 million invested in additions and alterations in the 2003- 04 fiscal year.

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. School boards may alter or reconsider their approved projects and could resubmit to the Department of Education.

Today's announcement wraps up a week-long series of announcements regarding new school construction and major renovation projects. The province has announced 12 new schools and 45 new addition/alteration projects. These are in addition to the 19 new schools and approximately 150 other renovation projects that are in various stages of construction or have been completed since 1999.

NOTE -- A list of renovation projects, by regional school board, follows:

Halifax Regional School Board:

• Atlantic Memorial-Terence Bay Elementary School, White's Lake, will receive $3.2 million for renovations which include: new gym, music room, classroom wing, and other upgrades. Work will begin in 2007 and will be completed in the 2010-11 school year.

• Prince Andrew High School, Dartmouth, will receive $8.85 million for major renovations which include: enhanced fine arts/performing arts/music area, improved science labs, a renovated auditorium, roof replacement, upgraded ventilation and numerous other infrastructure improvements. Work will begin in 2007 and should be completed by the 2011-12 school year.

• Bedford Junior High School, Bedford, will receive an $8.2- million investment for enhancements to the music room, library and gym, and several infrastructure replacements including the gym roof, floor tiles and the storm drain. The project will begin in 2007 with completion in the 2010-11 school year.

• Ellenvale Junior High School, Dartmouth, will receive $120,000 primarily for window replacement. (This is a continuation of work already in progress).

Chignecto-Cental Regional School Board:

• Stellarton Middle School, Stellarton, will receive $3.05 million to convert Stellarton High School into a middle school. The project will begin in 2005 and will be completed in 2007-08.

• New Glasgow High School, New Glasgow, will receive $4.58 million to convert the existing building to a junior high school. Work will begin in 2007 and will be completed by the 2010-11 school year.

• Oxford Regional High School, Oxford, will receive $4.95 million to upgrade the roof and exterior finish, improve the laboratories, ventilation system and heating system. The project will begin in 2004 and will be completed by the 2009-10 school year.

• West Highlands Elementary School, Amherst, will receive $2.45 million for a gym addition and upgrades to the existing school. The project will begin in 2007 and should be completed in the 2009-10 school year.

• Springhill Junior-Senior High School, Springhill, will receive $3.65 million to replace windows, floor and ceiling tiles, enhance the main entrance, upgrade plumbing, ventilation, electrical system, paving and school grounds. The project will begin in 2007 and should be complete in the 2010-11 school year.

• West Pictou District High School, Pictou, will receive $3.9 million to convert high school spaces into elementary and middle grade classrooms. The project is to begin 2008 and end 2111-12.

Strait Regional School Board:

• Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School, Antigonish, will receive $4 million for upgrades that will include new science labs, a new elevator, improved information and industrial technology classrooms, a roof replacement and gym enhancement. Work there will begin in 2003 and will be completed by the 2006- 07 school year.

South West Regional School Board:

• Weymouth Consolidated School, Weymouth, will receive $2.75 million to convert the school to a Primary to Grade 6 school from a P-12 school. Some work will be done in 2004-05. The remainder of the conversion will be started in 2008 and completed in the 2011-12 school year.

Conseil scolaire acadien provincial:

• École de la Rive-Sud, Lunenburg, will receive $3.7 million to expand the school to offer secondary school level programs. A new gym, cafeteria, science labs and other classrooms will be added. The project will get underway in the 2007-08 school year and will be completed by 2010.

• École du Carrefour, Dartmouth, will receive $2.4-million to add classroom space. The project is scheduled to begin in 2008 with completion in the 2010-11 school year.

• École Belleville, Belleville, will receive $1.7 million to add four classrooms, a cafeteria, science lab and other rooms. The project will get underway in 2008 and will be completed in the 2010-11 school year.

• École Joseph Dugas, Pointe-de-L'Église, will receive $100,000 for repairs and renovations. (This is a continuation of work already in progress).