Education
May 21, 2009Minister Provides
Update on School Infrastructure Projects
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
BACKGROUNDER
On-going and recently tendered school construction and
maintenance projects:
All Hallows� Elementary (North River) � Roofing
Ascension Collegiate (Bay Roberts) � Roof
replacement
Booth Memorial High (St. John�s) � Electrical
upgrades
Brother Rice Junior High (St. John�s) � Window
replacement; exit improvements and renovations
C.C. Loughlan Elementary (Corner Brook) � Roof
replacement
Canon Richards High (Flower�s Cove) � Gym and
related interior renovations
Exploits Valley Intermediate (Grand
Falls-Windsor) � Roofing
Frank Roberts Junior High (Foxtrap) � Roofing
Gonzaga High School (St. John�s) � Gym wall
repairs
Fortune Bay Academy (St. Bernard's-Jacques
Fontaine) - Roofing
Marystown Central High (Marystown) � Window
replacement
Millcrest Academy (Grand Falls-Windsor) � Roofing
Queen Elizabeth Regional High (Foxtrap) � Roof
replacement phase II
Roncalli Central High (Port Saunders) � Roofing
Roncalli Elementary (St. John�s) � Gym roof
structure upgrade and kitchen suppression hood
Sacred Heart Academy (Marystown) � Roof
re-cap/repair
St. Francis School (Harbour Grace) � Building
envelop reconstruction; roofing
St. Gabriel�s All Grade (St. Brendan�s) �
Electrical upgrades
St. George�s Elementary (Manuels) � Building
envelop/interior
St. James Elementary (Channel-Port aux Basques) �
Exterior wall reconstruction
St. Joseph�s Academy (Lamaline) � Siding
replacement
St. Joseph�s All Grade (Terrenceville) �
Electrical upgrade
St. Theresa�s Elementary (St. John�s) � Building
envelop repairs
Southwest Arm Academy (Little Heart�s Ease) �
Electrical upgrades
Templeton Academy (Meadows) � Gym floor
replacement
Villanova Junior High (Manuels) � Modular
classrooms
Xavier Junior High (Deer Lake) � Roof replacement
2009 05 21
11:10 a.m.