Extension Tendered for St. Paul’s Intermediate in Gander

Construction will soon begin on a new $1.5 million extension to St. Paul's Intermediate in Gander. A tender to complete the project, which will include a new skilled trades suite, music room, fitness centre, and exterior site work, has been awarded to Bluebird Construction of Grand Falls-Windsor.

“These latest improvements are in addition to more than $600,000 worth of upgrades already completed at St. Paul's in recent years, including new roofing, windows and other repairs,” said the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education. “As a government, we continue to invest heavily in ensuring our students have safe, modern environments in which to learn.”

In the Town of Gander alone, approximately $5.4 million in infrastructure upgrades have been completed on schools since 2004. In addition, Budget 2011 allocated $500,000 to begin the process of extending and renovating Gander Academy to address the growing student population.

“I am pleased to see this progress on the extension for St. Paul’s Intermediate,” said the Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Municipal Affairs and MHA for Gander. “This extension will bring a host of new facilities to the school and enhance the education of its students. I look forward to the continued progression of this work and the benefits it will bring to the students of St. Paul’s Intermediate.”

Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador, provides $94.5 million for new and ongoing K-12 infrastructure projects, including $34.3 million for repairs and maintenance. Since 2004, the Provincial Government has allocated more than $504 million for school infrastructure – a level of investment unprecedented in the province’s history.

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2011 08 29                            10:45 a.m.