Education
December 27, 2013

Safe and Healthy Learning Environments Support the
Well-Being of Children and Families

Major School Infrastructure Milestones Celebrated in 2013

This past year several major milestones were reached as an extraordinary level of investment in K-12 infrastructure continued for new school construction, extensions, redevelopments, renovations, and repairs and maintenance projects throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

“I had the great pleasure of attending the sod turning for the new intermediate school in Corner Brook, visiting the proposed site of a new school for Grades 4-6 in Gander, touring the newly-constructed Carbonear Academy, and marking the beginning of Phase II redevelopment at Exploits Valley High in Grand Falls-Windsor. I also visited the site of the new St. Teresa’s school and announced the beginning of construction for a new high school in the west end of St. John’s. It is always gratifying to see these projects underway and completed, and to see the genuine pride in the faces of school district staff, administrators, teachers, students and the parent community, who are anxious to show you around, and to point out particular features of their new learning environments.”
- The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Education

Minister Jackman noted these projects are among 11 news schools and 13 major extensions or redevelopments that have been completed in both rural and urban areas of the province since 2004. The focus on infrastructure improvements continued this year, with a total of almost $102 million allocated for schools – including $3.5 million in new funding for major capital projects, $76.9 million for ongoing work on previously approved projects, and $21.4 million for repairs and maintenance.

“It has indeed been another remarkable year in terms of our investments in school infrastructure. In addition to the major projects, there were a couple of hundred repair and maintenance projects carried out this year – including electrical and plumbing upgrades, roofing work, window and siding replacements – all designed to protect our investment in existing infrastructure.”
- Minister Jackman

Minister Jackman said there are also nine additional rebuilds, extensions, and major renovation projects currently underway or in the investigative/planning stages at Exploits Valley High in Grand Falls-Windsor, William Gillett Academy in Charlottetown, Gander Academy, the former Regina High in Corner Brook, Holy Heart High and Roncalli Elementary in St. John’s, Elizabeth Park Elementary in Paradise, G.C. Rowe in Corner Brook, and Carbonear Academy.

Also, nine new schools are currently under construction or in the planning stages in Conception Bay South, Portugal Cove-St. Philips, Paradise, Torbay, Gander, and in St. John’s, which will see replacements for St. Teresa’s, Virginia Park Elementary, and a new high school for the west end of the city.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to supporting important social programs, strong communities and the health and well-being of children, families and seniors.
 

QUICK FACTS

• The Department of Education celebrates significant infrastructure milestones in 2013 including new school construction, extensions, redevelopments, renovations, and repairs and maintenance projects.
• Since 2004, over $620 million has been allocated for K-12 infrastructure in Newfoundland and Labrador, a level of investment unprecedented in the province’s history.
• Each year the Department of Education is allocated funding for new construction, extensions, renovations, as well as repairs and maintenance projects at K–12 schools throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. To learn more visit www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu/k12/repairs/index.html.

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Media contact:
Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca
 
2013 12 27            9:45 a.m.