Minister clarifies Persalvic Elementary School tender calls

Tom Rideout, Minister of Transportation and Works, said today that two additional tenders have been called for additional repairs and upgrading to the Persalvic Elementary School in Victoria. During the past summer, the department awarded a contract valued at $172,246 to replace windows and face brick at this facility.

Minister Rideout stated: "The department has issued tenders for additional repairs and upgrading on Persalvic Elementary and both will close today. The second has been called since September 24. The department will have the contract awarded soon after its closing today."

During installation of the new windows, plaster that was suspected to contain asbestos was encountered. Air quality testing commissioned by the Department of Education confirmed the presence of asbestos and a limited presence of mould in small quantities.

"One of these projects will install a new roof on the gymnasium. The other will reconstruct part of the exterior walls, remove asbestos and mould which was discovered in August when the window replacement project was underway," said Minister Rideout.

Following completion of the additional work to remove the asbestos and mould, the window and face brick replacement contract will resume. The department estimates that the additional work repairs and installation of new windows and face brick will take six to eight weeks.

"Our government will continue to focus on the issues that are important to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians; the safety of our children and schools are key among those issues. We are taking all the necessary steps to ensure the students and teachers of Persalvic Elementary School are provided a safe and healthy environment."

The tenders can be viewed on the official government Web site at //www.gpa.gov.nl.ca

Media contact: Lori Lee Oates, Communications, (709) 729-3015 or (709) 690-8403

2004 10 01                  4:00 p.m.