Municipal Affairs
July 17, 2012
Tender Awarded for Short-Term Classroom Space in Charlottetown
Construction will soon begin on classroom space at the recreation centre in Charlottetown, Labrador, following the recent award of a tender valued at $414,710 to Budgell’s Equipment & Rentals Ltd. of Triton.
The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Education, noted the space will accommodate students from William Gillett Academy, while permanent classroom and administrative spaces at the K-12 school are being completely rebuilt. The only part of the existing school which will remain, and be renovated, is the gymnasium, which was built in 1993 and will continue to serve the needs of the approximately 50 students in the school community.
The rebuild is expected to be complete by September 2014, at which time the short-term classroom extension on the recreation centre will be converted to a new town hall for the community.
“We were very pleased to announce this project last month, particularly as it represented a solution to two major infrastructure needs in the community,” said Minister Jackman. “With the awarding of this tender, work can begin on the classrooms for use in the short term, bringing us closer to a permanent, rebuilt school for the Charlottetown school community.”
The cost of the recreation centre extension will be shared between the Departments of Education and Municipal Affairs. The Town of Charlottetown’s contribution will be made when the interim instructional space is renovated to become the new town hall.
“It is exciting for all partners to know that construction will be starting soon on this important project for the residents of Charlottetown,” said the Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “At the end of the day, residents will benefit from a new municipal building and students will have a rebuilt school. The solution is a win-win for the community.”
Meanwhile, Minister Jackman noted that tenders for the reconstruction of instructional space at William Gillett Academy are expected to be awarded in the very near future. The rebuilt section will be constructed of all new material, on a concrete foundation. The school will feature:
- All new classrooms;
- A new skilled trades room/science lab;
- A new resource centre/computer room;
- A new home economics /lunch room;
- A new distance learning room;
- A new special education/challenging needs room;
- A music room/stage, complete with new stage lighting and curtains;
- A renovated gymnasium;
- Full accessibility;
- New heating and electrical systems; and,
- A new mechanical ventilation system.
Budget 2012: People and Prosperity includes $115 million for new and ongoing K-12 infrastructure, including $29 million for priority repairs and maintenance. Since 2004, about $567 million has been allocated for school infrastructure throughout the province. Nine new schools have opened; 10 more are in various stages of planning or construction; 12 major extension and renovation projects have been completed, and six more are underway or in the planning stages.
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Media contacts:
| Heather May Director of Communications Department of Education 709-729-0048, 697-5061 heathermay@gov.nl.ca |
Tansy Mundon Director of Communications Department of Municipal Affairs 709-729-1983, 693-1865 tansymundon@gov.nl.ca |
2012 07 17
10:35 a.m.