Record investment to be made in New Brunswick"s aging schools

01/12/2011

The provincial government will make a record investment in New Brunswick"s schools to ensure safe and healthy learning environments for students, teachers and education support staff.

Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Jody Carr made this announcement today while tabling the 2011-12 capital estimates of the Department of Education. The department will be investing $98.3 million in 13 major capital projects, several facility improvement projects and new equipment.   

We are committed to improving our aging school infrastructure for our children and the dedicated professionals that work with them, said Carr. The unexpected need to remove students from two schools earlier this fall in Campbellton and Moncton highlights the need for investment and better management of our facilities.

A total of $10 million has been earmarked to star the process to build a new school to replace Moncton High School. Students and staff were forced to move out of the school earlier this fall due to problems with the aging building.

The provincial government has decided to move forward with a new K-8 Riverview school, which will replace two aging and over-populated facilities.

A total of $8.5 million has been allocated to complete major repairs and renovations to Polyvalente Roland-P in in Campbellton. Students and staff were forced to relocate to other schools earlier in the fall when structural problems were discovered during renovations.

Design work will begin for a new K-5 francophone school to replace ole Sainte-Bernadette in Moncton.  

The provincial government will move forward with a new K-8 francophone school in Moncton North, addressing two top priorities in School District 1.

The provincial government will complete work at the new ole R ionale Restigouche-Est, replacing three aging buildings. Renovations will be completed at ole Sacre-Coeur in Grand Falls, and architectural design work will commence at ole Saint-Andr

Design work will start for a new K-8 school at Southern Carleton, and planning and design work will begin for a new K-8 school in Woodstock, replacing four aging buildings.
The provincial government has decided to proceed with a new Lower Lincoln K-5 school, a new Alexander Gibson/South Devon K-5 school and a new Kennebecasis Park K-5 school.  Planning for these schools started this year.

Capital projects were selected from the lists of priorities established by each of the province"s 14 district education councils and school districts.

Major renovation and construction projects, Department of Education, 2011-12

School District 1

●    Moncton North: $1.9 million architectural planning of a new K-8 school (650 students) to accommodate growth in the surrounding community. Scheduled to open in 2013.
●     ole Sainte-Bernadette: $900,000 architectural design work for the construction of a new K-5 school (258 students). Scheduled to open in 2013.

School District 2

●    New Riverview school: $1.8 million planning and design for a K-8 school (650 students) to accommodate the growth in the surrounding community and to close aging and crowded facilities. Estimated completion date is 2013.
●    New Moncton High School: $10 million to begin the process to build a new school (1,250 students).

School District 3

●    A total of $3 million is allocated for the rationalization of schools in the Grand Falls area. This funding will complete renovations to ole Sacr Coeur for September 2011 and planning and architectural design work for ole Saint-Andr
 
School District 5

●    Polyvalente Roland-P in: $8.5 million renovation and refit of the school (grades 7-12) to meet new requirements and modern teaching needs and complete needed structural repairs. Estimated completion date is January 2012.
●     ole R ionale Restigouche-Est: $7.4 million completion of a K-8 school (350 students) for pupils from Balmoral, Dundee and Eel River Crossing. Completion date is January 2012.
●     ole Carrefour- udiant: $800,000 completion of an expansion to the gym and stage. Estimated completion date is September 2011.

School District 6

●    Kennebecasis Park School: $7.7 million completion of architectural design and start of construction of a K-5 school (300 students) on existing school property. Estimated completion date is September 2012.

School District 14

●    Southern Carleton: $1 million for architectural design for a K-8 school (650 students). Completion date: to be determined.
●    Woodstock Centennial School: $1.5 million start of educational planning and architectural design for a K-8 school (650 students). The school would be built on the existing Centennial Elementary School property. Completion date: to be determined.

School District 16

●    Tabusintac: form a provincial/federal/community steering committee to begin developing a new multipurpose community centre that will address needs of declining school enrolment in the rural community.

School District 17

●    Lower Lincoln Elementary School: $6 million completion of architectural design and start of construction for a new K-5 school that would replace aging infrastructure and six modular classrooms. Estimated completion date is January 2013.

School District 18

●    Alexander Gibson Elementary

(source: www.gnb.ca - News Release)