Government unveils $75 Million School Capital Construction Program

Premier Brian Tobin, together with the Education Minister Judy Foote, announced today that government will embark on a major new school capital construction program costing $75 million. As a key component of government's education reform agenda, today's announcement, along with $50 million earmarked earlier this year, represents an investment of $125 million in new school facilities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

"Today's announcement demonstrates government's commitment to education reform," said Premier Tobin. "This is the most significant school construction program ever undertaken in our province since confederation. It is evidence that education reform is working and government is delivering on its commitment to the people." The Department of Education will begin working with school boards early in 1999 to prepare detailed plans for the construction of:

• A new 7-12 school for Happy Valley-Goose Bay;
• A new K-12 school for the Plum Point area;
• A new K-12 school for the Roddickton-Englee area;
• A new K-12 facility at Burgeo;
• A new K-12 school for New World Island;
• A new school for the Lethbridge-Musgravetown area;
• A new K-12 school for the Arnold's Cove area;
• A new 7-12 school for the Old Perlican area;
• A new school for the Pouch Cove-Flatrock area;

Other construction, renovation, and redevelopment projects in the range of $15 million for the Avalon East Board will be accommodated as the board finalizes its reconfiguration plans. "These new schools will be designed to enable teachers and students to access new technology and utilize modern teaching and learning techniques that were not possible in older facilities," said Premier Tobin.

For example:

• Each of these new schools will contain heating and ventilation systems to ensure that the quality of air does not pose a health hazard to students;

• New buildings will be accessible to students with physical disabilities;

• These schools will contain specialized areas which are designed to provide the necessary care for students with disabilities;

• Gymnasiums will be included in the design of these schools. These facilities will be designed so as to be used by groups and organizations within the community;

• Each rural school will include provision for students to access distance education programs and a specially designed space for this purpose;

• Computer technology plays an integral role in the education of all students, therefore:

• Each new school will be provided with a library-resource center which will contain computers to assist students in accessing information from the Internet and from CDs;

• Each rural school will be fitted with a satellite dish to permit students to access the Internet;

• Each school with high school grades will include a technology lab which has been fitted with the necessary computers;

• Each classroom, lab, and specialist area will be fitted with several computers for student use and one for the use of the teacher;

• Each school will have a local area network installed to permit transfer of data and information from one computer to another within the building;

Premier Tobin said: "Government has not only invested money which has been saved through education reform, but has provided additional funds to ensure that students in this province can access the education programs they need."

Meanwhile, students at Grandy's River, Carbonear, Grand Falls-Windsor, Baie Verte, Bishop's Falls, Piccadilly, Campbellton, and Random Island are now attending schools which have been refurbished and provided with additional classrooms, laboratories, and speciality areas.

Within the next few weeks students in Hopedale and Rigolet will move into new state-of-the-art facilities which will replace old buildings which have outlived their usefulness. Rigolet will have its first ever gymnasium.

Construction has already started to provide:

• a new K-12 facility at Pollard's Point, White Bay;

• a new K-12 facility at Buchans;

• a new primary facility at Nain;

• a new facility at Norman Bay;

• a new 7-12 facility at Blaketown;

• a new middle school at Clarenville; and

• an extension and renovations to Dunne Memorial Academy, St. Mary's.

Tenders will be called within the next few months for refurbishing,

renovating, and extending schools at:

• Upper Ferry

• St. George's

• Gambo, and

• Forteau.

Minister Foote said: "This aggressive school construction program is in addition to the extensive improvements which have occurred in schools throughout the province over the past summer. It was the most extensive repair and maintenance program ever carried out to our schools during the summer months."

This summer, government provided school boards with $2.5 million to expand on their normal repairs and maintenance programs. This money enabled school boards to repair and replace roofs, windows and siding; to paint corridors and classrooms; to improve playgrounds; to replace carpets; and, to perform remediation necessary to ensure that the air quality in schools does not pose a threat to the health of students.

Premier Tobin concluded by saying: "There can be no better investment in our future than an investment in the education of the children of Newfoundland and Labrador."

Media contact:

Heidi Bonnell, Premier's Office, (709) 729-3564
or
Nancy Healey, (709) 729-5040

1998 12 18                          11:00 a.m.