Frustration is mounting in the Placentia area over the progress of constructing a new high school in the town, says Mayor Bill Hogan.
"It's becoming a major concern," Hogan said Friday.
Officials with the Department of Education, however, said progress is being made and a tender will be issued "within the next few months."
In a statement e-mailed to The Telegram, Jacquelyn Howard, a spokeswoman for the department, said the floor plan has been accepted by the community, school council and officials with the Eastern School District, and engineering work is now being completed.
She said the school is expected to be ready by the fall of 2010.
It's been more than two years since high-ranking government officials came to town and made a splash about the decision to build a new school, which will replace Laval high.
Vale Inco Newfoundland and Labrador, the company constructing a new commercial nickel processing plant in nearby Long Harbour, also announced it would contribute $1.8 million for recreational facilities at the school.
Education Minister Joan Burke said at the time the school would be ready by 2009, and would cost "at least $8 million."
That figure has since increased by several million dollars because of a sharp rise in labour costs and construction materials.
Howard said completion dates are estimates only and "are fluid depending on how long different aspects of the process may take to complete."
She would not provide cost estimates because it may influence the upcoming tender process.
Hogan is not happy the school will be delayed by a year.
"At the time, it was supposed to be No. 1 on the school board's priority list. Now it's fallen behind Torbay and Paradise because we have no political clout," Hogan complained.
A wing of the existing building has been demolished to make way for the new structure, and students are occupying the remaining section.
Hogan said site selection took a considerable amount of time, and he's "thoroughly disappointed" that more hasn't been done.
Darrin Pike, chief executive officer with the Eastern School District, said officials with the board have been working collaboratively to expedite the project.
"We look forward to seeing the start of construction once tenders have been awarded," he stated.
troberts@thetelegram.com
Delay causing frustration
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Published on
January 12, 2009
- Published on June 30, 2010
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Terry Roberts
Still no tender call two years after province announced new Placentia school
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Comments
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- George
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:51:22
Evaluate the PC's Record
Delay in the school in school in Placentia
Delay in construction of hospital in Lab. City.
Delay in addressing a Provincial Rehab Center.
Too much focus on ABC campaign while everything here in the province is being neglected. -
- bern
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:51:19
Hang on folks.This will be settled just before the next election.
Or does the school go to Long Harbour as well. -
- marie
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:38:45
Another year--this is beyond ridiculous. The entire senior wing of the school is gone and all the students are herded into one section, using their lunch areas as classrooms etc. Where is the quality of education for these children ? They will be expected to compete with students from schools that offer so much more. Laval has an excellent group of teachers that always go the extra mile, but it will be much harder with this severly limited environment. It is too unjust.
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- George
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:34:53
Evaluate the PC's Record
Delay in the school in school in Placentia
Delay in construction of hospital in Lab. City.
Delay in addressing a Provincial Rehab Center.
Too much focus on ABC campaign while everything here in the province is being neglected. -
- bern
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:34:48
Hang on folks.This will be settled just before the next election.
Or does the school go to Long Harbour as well. -
- marie
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:13:40
Another year--this is beyond ridiculous. The entire senior wing of the school is gone and all the students are herded into one section, using their lunch areas as classrooms etc. Where is the quality of education for these children ? They will be expected to compete with students from schools that offer so much more. Laval has an excellent group of teachers that always go the extra mile, but it will be much harder with this severly limited environment. It is too unjust.
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