Province Invests In Cape Breton Students' Success

Cape Breton students will attend improved and upgraded schools as a result of funding announced today, Dec. 7.

Education Minister Ramona Jennex announced that three Cape Breton schools will be renovated and another school will get funding to study a renovation project.

"The people of Cape Breton want their children to go to modern, up-to-date schools that will ensure they succeed and get good jobs," said Ms. Jennex. "We put kids and learning first, and we are doing that by providing our students with the best schools, classrooms and technology that we can."

The Cape Breton schools that will begin renovations in 2013-14 are:

• Glace Bay High School, $1.88 million
• Sydney Mines Memorial Composite High School, $5.52 million
• Donkin School, $1 million

Jacinta Gracie, chair of the School Advisory Council at Memorial Composite High School, welcomed the news that her 40-year-old school will be renovated.

"This project will have a fantastic impact on student learning," said Ms. Gracie. "Every improvement to school facilities is a future investment, not only in our students, but in our community."

The province has also set aside $500,000 to further study seven additional potential projects, including renovations to the Breton Education Centre in New Waterford.

The other six projects are:

• Hants North P-12 (new)
• Trenton P-8 (new)
• Bridgetown Regional High School (renovation to a P-12)
• Park View Education Centre (renovation)
• Wolfville School (renovation)
• Cobequid Education Centre (renovation)

In addition, Mulgrave Memorial Education Centre in the Strait Regional School Board will undergo a $1.3 million renovation.

For the first time, the province required school boards to submit business plans with their list of priority projects.

The funds will assist Cape Breton-Victoria Regional and other school boards in hiring consultants to help in the preparation of comprehensive business cases. The province and school boards will work together on preparing the cases. As these projects move from study to implementation, further government approvals will be necessary.

The province will renovate and improve 26 schools across the province in 2013-14 under its capital plan.

This is the third straight year the province will release the capital plan before the spring budget. This sends a clear signal of what the province intends to do in the year ahead, and gives the private sector greater opportunity to prepare for projects, creating efficiencies and cost savings for the province.