Education minister responds to PC education critic

Education Minister Judy Foote says that statements made by Tom Hedderson, PC education critic regarding the development of a K-12 school in School District #5 are wrong.

In a recent news release, Mr. Hedderson said the Minister of Education overturned a school board decision concerning redevelopment of schools in the Bay d�Espoir area. "Nothing could be further from the truth," said Minister Foote. "When the board approached the Department of Education with a request for a new K-12 school in the Bay d�Espoir area, an independent, comprehensive structural assessment was conducted of Holy Cross School in St. Alban�s and Greenwood Academy in Milltown. This is a common practice given the number of requests for funding for new schools throughout the province."

The minister continued, "In the past five years, $160 million has been committed for new school construction. The department has received further requests totaling $80 million. The information received from the consulting group was that $2.2 million would be required to renovate Holy Cross, and $970,000 to renovate Milltown and that the quality of education to be offered at either facility would be the same."

"As Minister of Education, I have responsibility for the efficient use of public funds. It would be irresponsible for me to approve expenditures which go beyond the required needs of any region," concluded Minister Foote.

Media contact: Catherina Kennedy, Communications, (709) 729-0048.

2002 07 16                            12:10 p.m.