Education Minister announces tender call

Education Minister Judy Foote and June Alteen, chair of the Corner Brook/Deer Lake School Board, are pleased to announce today the call for the tender for the Rocky Harbour K-12 School.

In May 2001 the school board announced plans to convert Rocky Harbour Elementary school to a K-12 facility. Students from Holland�s Memorial Central High School building, Norris Point will move to the Rocky Harbour school.

"Government continues its commitment to providing quality education for all our students," said Minister Foote. "Our students deserve to attend schools that provide an environment conducive to learning. The Rocky Harbour K-12 school will provide resources and facilities to do that. Upon completion this will be a state of the art facility with resources to furnish every student with what they require to learn, to develop and prepare to meet the challenges of the future. Education is essential to one�s ability to becoming full and contributing participants in society."

District #3 chair June Alteen said: "I know the students and teachers are looking forward to new educational opportunities that will come with this new facility. Its design will also meet the needs of the people of the Bonne Bay North area as a true school/community centre. This facility will be the most technologically advanced school within our district and will provide the opportunity for our students to access a full range of programs and services in our most modern facility. I look forward to the transition of the Rocky Harbour Elementary building over the coming months and I am confident the students of the area will enjoy many new learning opportunities in this facility."

The school is designed to accommodate all students currently attending Holland�s Memorial and Rocky Harbour Elementary and will be 40,800 square feet in area. It will contain a new gymnasium, stage and music room, a challenging needs suite, a technology education area, science labs, an art room and additional instructional spaces. All instructional areas will be wired for computers and connected to a local area network. The project will include window replacement, a fenced primary playground and landscaping. The school will be designed to allow for the physical separation of younger and older students. Its design will facilitate use by community groups such as the public library and youth groups.

"This move towards increased community use of schools is in keeping with government�s Strategic Social Plan which encourages the community use of public buildings. This school will serve the entire community," added the minister.

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

2002 04 25                         9:40 a.m.