Ministers, board chair attend official reopening of Grandy�s River Collegiate

Judy Foote, Minister of Education, Kelvin Parsons, MHA for the District of Burgeo-LaPoile and Minister of Justice, and John Dollimount, chair of the Cormack Trail School Board, attended a ceremony today to officially open Grandy�s River Collegiate in Burnt Islands.

Extensive renovations have occurred at Grandy�s River Collegiate over the past year to convert the school to a Kindergarten to Grade 12 facility from one that served students in Grade 7-12.

"I am delighted to join with the teachers, staff and students, as well as school council and board members in celebrating the official opening of this refurbished facility," said Minister Foote. "Government has invested nearly $1 million in this school to ensure the students and staff will be attending a high quality facility. Each upgrade will serve to enhance the teaching and learning environment for everyone at Grandy�s River."

Upgrades to the facility include new primary classrooms, a challenging needs suite, renovations for a health room, a technology education suite and a home economics room. Accessibility improvements have been completed, which include a new lift, new door operators, ramps to the main entrance and accessible washrooms. A primary playground was constructed, and the school was wired for computers.

"I�m delighted to be part of this day. This upgrade to the school will improve the quality of education for the students and will contribute to the region�s economic diversity," said Minister Parsons. "My colleague Minister Foote and I have worked hard to meet the needs of the community. Through the cooperate efforts of the community residents, we have brought this project to fruition."

"The Cormack Trail School Board is very happy to see the renovations to Grandy�s River completed," said Mr. Dollimount. "We express our thanks to the Minister of Education and her officials for their co-operation. We especially thank the staff and students, parents and the contractor for seeing this project through in a very professional and efficient manner."

To date, government has invested over $19 million in capital construction projects in the Cormack Trail School District. This expenditure is part of government�s $170 million investment in new school facilities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

"In recent years, this government has initiated the most significant school construction program undertaken in the province since Confederation," said Minister Foote. "We are committed to ensuring our students experience high levels of achievement and to accomplish that, we have to make sure the schools they attend create a positive learning environment."

Media contact:

Carmel Turpin, Education, (709) 729-0048
Edwina Bateman, Justice, (709) 729-6985

2002 12 06                                       2:20 p.m.