Site Selected For Glace Bay Junior High

A site on Highland Street has been chosen for the new Glace Bay Junior High School, Department of Education officials said today, April 19.

The site, next to Queen Elizabeth Park, was one of three submitted by the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board for review by the Department of Education and the Department of Transportation and Public Works, which will manage the construction project.

The Department of Transportation and Public Works selected the Highland Street and Phalen Road sites for further assessment after evaluating all three sites according to standard criteria.

Highland Road has been recommended subject to more information being gathered on environmental issues, possible subsidence from old mines, traffic, and cost. No major obstacles are anticipated.

In accepting the recommendation, Education Minister Jamie Muir thanked the board and community volunteers for their contribution to the selection process.

"It's been a pleasure working with them," said Mr. Muir. "Their dedication to this project has been invaluable."

The cost of the 700-student school is estimated at $11.9 million.

Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2006 and the opening is targeted for December 2007.