Tender awarded for new school in Mud Lake

Education Minister Judy Foote and Ernie McLean, Lake Melville MHA and Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs Minister, announced today in conjunction with the Labrador School Board, that the tender for construction of a new school for Mud Lake, Labrador, has been awarded to Natuashish Construction Ltd., of Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

"Government is investing $338,000 in this new facility and construction will begin shortly," said Minister Foote. "The school will be ready for the students to attend this September. Government continues to invest in the students of Newfoundland and Labrador by providing them with school facilities which give them access to a wide variety of programs and resources that will help them prepare to meet the challenges of the future."

The new school will replace Mud Lake School which has a current enrolment of 14 students. The new facility has three instructional spaces, including classroom space and a library which is equipped as a computer room and a distance learning centre. The school will be fully accessible and have facilities to accommodate students with special needs. It will be serviced by a new well and a water treatment system. The school will also have a mechanical ventilation system to ensure clean air.

"The people of Mud Lake have waited a long time for a new school," said Minister Ernie McLean. "This new facility will become one of the cornerstones of the community, providing a safe learning environment for students for many years to come. Once again, government has demonstrated its commitment of ensuring students in rural parts of the province are afforded the opportunity to receive a quality education in quality facilities."

"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," said Guy Elliot, chair of the Labrador School Board.

"The Department of Education continues to support the capital construction plans of the Labrador School Board. To date, students in Hopedale, Nain, and Rigolet are attending new, state-of-the-art facilities. Last month I announced the awarding of the tender for a new school in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and planning is underway for the construction of a new school in Postville," said Minister Foote.

To date, government has invested over $28 million to improve school facilities in the Labrador School Board.

Media contact:

Catherina Kennedy, Education, (709) 729-0048
Bert Pomeroy, Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, (709) 896-8668

2002 06 19                            10:05 a.m.