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May 21, 1998
(Education)


The following statement was issued today by Roger Grimes, Minister of Education. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

The inability to reach property agreements with the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation is interfering with School Board plans for renovations and reorganization of existing school resources in time for the September, 1998-99 school year. I am referring specifically to the situation surrounding Dunne Memorial Academy, Dunne Primary, and St. Anne's school in District 9 and St. Joseph's High School, St. Georges in District 4.

In July of 1997, the Department of Education authorized funding for these two projects and since that date, despite the efforts of the boards to reach an agreement with the RC Episcopal Corporation, their attempts have been unsuccessful.

Section 84 of the Schools Act, 1997, requires the denominational authority to enter into an agreement with the School Board before the Board can expend any funds to renovate, refurbish, modernize or add new construction components. All parties concerned with these two projects are meeting today and I urge them to resolve the situation without further delay. Failing that, government is prepared to take the legislative action necessary to resolve this serious problem if Boards and the RC Episcopal Corporation are unable to reach a satisfactory agreement.

All planning leading to an expenditure on these projects is in limbo because of this impasse. The result is that the children in these areas may not be provided with the types of educational facilities conducive to their learning experiences. I am very concerned that if agreement is not reached shortly, then there will be no work possible in these facilities this summer and another school year will pass before much needed work can commence.

We have the responsibility to ensure that the schools in question and for that matter, all schools are ready for student occupancy in time for the September 1998-99 school year.

1998 05 21                          2:40 p.m.


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