News release

G. R. Saunders Funding Approved

A new gymnasium, library, cafeteria and music facilities are coming for the students, teachers and staff at G. R. Saunders Elementary School in Stellarton, Pictou Co., thanks to an additional $1.5 million for school improvements.

"I am very pleased that we can provide this additional funding for G. R. Saunders school," said Minister of Education Karen Casey. "We know it will make a difference in the day-to-day life of the students and staff."

In May 2005, the Department of Education announced improvements to the school worth $4.5 million. Increases in the cost of materials resulted in the project being scaled back to remain within budget. The additional funding will allow the project to proceed as intended.

G. R. Saunders is home to about 370 students in Grades Primary to 6.

In the area served by the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board, four new schools have been approved for construction and renovations are underway at six schools, including G. R. Saunders. Two new schools opened in the Amherst area last fall.

The province is investing more than $400 million over eight years to build new schools and support extensive renovation work.


FOR BROADCAST:

A new gymnasium, library, cafeteria and music facilities

are coming for the students, teachers and staff at G. R.

Saunders Elementary School in Stellarton, Pictou Co.

The Department of Education has announced that it is making

an additional one-point-five million dollars available for

renovations to the school.

Four-point-five million dollars worth of renovations were

previously approved for the school, which has about 370

Grades Primary to 6 students. These improvements had to be

scaled back because of increased costs in materials.

Now, the project will proceed as intended.

Education Minister Karen Casey says she is very pleased the

government could make this additional funding available.