Preparations Begin for Yarmouth High Renovation

A school steering team from the local community will meet soon to advise government on $3.65 million in renovations planned for Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School.

The work will include a new classroom wing, cafeteria renovations and a new roof. There will also be electrical, plumbing and many other upgrades.

Education Minister Jamie Muir said today, Feb. 2, he is pleased to see the process get underway.

"This is a significant investment in a fine school," he said. "The close involvement of the community ensures that students and teachers will benefit from it for years to come."

Tri County Regional School Board chair Faye Haley said the steering team will also consider adding a theatre to the school.

"As a retired English and drama teacher, I find the idea of having a theatre in the school a very pleasant one. I see it as a great benefit to the students, staff and the community," she said.

Funding for a theatre would be raised by the community.

Steering teams are created for every major school construction project to advise the Department of Education and the Department of Transportation and Public Works during the project. Appointed by the school board, the teams include community members and at least one administrator, one principal and, in the case of high schools, a student.

The Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School project is part of an eight-year school construction program funded by the Department of Education worth more than $400 million.

Planning and design work will begin in the 2005-06 school year and construction is scheduled to finish in 2008-09.