Tender awarded for new school in Postville

Education Minister Judy Foote and Wally Andersen, MHA for the District of Torngat Mountains, are pleased to announce today in conjunction with the Labrador School Board, that Colby Construction Ltd., of St. John�s was awarded the contract to construct the new K-12 school in Postville.

"Government is investing $4 million in this new school and construction will begin shortly," said Minister Foote. "Government is committed to ensuring all students receive the highest quality education in the best facilities possible. Our students deserve to attend schools that provide an environment conducive to learning. The Postville school will provide resources and facilities to do that. Upon completion this will be a state of the art facility with resources to furnish every student with what they require to learn, develop and prepare to meet the challenges of the future."

This new school will be 15,000 square feet and will replace B.L. Morrison School. The school includes a large gymnasium, a life skills/technology education suite, a science lab, resource centre, and a home economics room that will be available for community use. There is also a suite for students with special needs. All classrooms have been wired for computers and the school will be fully ventilated.

"We have seen tremendous progress in improving educational facilities on the north coast in recent years," said Torngat Mountains MHA Wally Andersen. "In fact, this will be the fourth new school to be built in my district since 1996. I am pleased to be associated with a government that sees the importance of ensuring students in rural, isolated areas of our province are able to receive a quality education in modern, state-of-the-art facilities."

Guy Elliot, chair of the Labrador School Board said: "The Labrador School Board is pleased to work with the government to provide rural communities with modern, up-to-date facilities from which to provide quality education to students in Labrador. New buildings are key components in the education process."

To date, government has invested over $29 million in capital construction projects in the Labrador School District. Students in Hopedale, Nain and Rigolet are attending new, state-of-the-art facilities. Last month the awarding of the tender for a new school in Happy Valley-Goose Bay was announced.

Media contact:

Catherina Kennedy, Communications, (709) 729-0048
Wally Andersen, MHA, Torngat Mountains,(709) 729-0990

2002 06 19                           10:05 a.m.