In a little over three short months, the Provincial Government has approved 21 school maintenance projects, valued at nearly $6 million. These include everything from window and siding replacement, to electrical upgrades and roof repairs. This latest round of projects builds on $4.9 million worth of work that has already been tendered and awarded, and is now at various stages of completion.

"These projects reflect the increased level of activity over the past number of years to improve school infrastructure," said the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education. "Window and siding replacements, wall reconstruction projects and roof repairs often don�t make the news, so people may be unaware of the massive amount of major maintenance and repair projects underway in schools throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. But they are important to individual school communities, and on the whole speak to government�s determination to ensure safe, secure learning environments for students, teachers and staff."

The Provincial Government has allocated $121.5 million this year to new school construction, renovations, maintenance and repairs, an increase of an incredible 751 per cent since 2004. Since that time there have been in excess of 470 air quality related projects completed, 175 roofing projects, and 142 building envelope projects, such as the replacement of windows and siding. Carpets continue to be removed and chalkboards are being replaced with white boards.

Minister King also noted that work is moving forward on the nine new schools to be built in communities located throughout the province. Tenders have been awarded for the construction of schools in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, L�anse au Loup, Paradise and Torbay. The tender for site preparation for the Port Hope Simpson school has also been awarded. It is expected that the main construction tenders for Port Hope Simpson, Placentia, Baie Verte, Port Saunders and the second K-6 school in Paradise will be issued or awarded in the near future.

"Clearly, there is a tremendous level of new construction, repairs and upgrades on-going," said Minister King. "While we know there�s still work to be done, we are making headway to provide the best possible learning environments for students. I am extremely pleased with our progress and government remains committed to improving the province�s school buildings for current and future students."

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Media contact:

Jacquelyn Howard
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 689-2624
jacquelynhoward@gov.nl.ca

On-going and recently tendered school construction and maintenance projects: