The students of Charlottetown in Labrador will have new classrooms in the fall, and can look forward to a rebuilt school in 2014, the province announced today.
Children from William Gillett Academy were placed in alternate learning environments after the school’s roof collapsed during a winter snowstorm causing flooding and structural damage in February.
The school also had extensive mould issues.
For the 2012-2013 school year, students will be placed in short-term classrooms to be added onto the Charlottetown recreation centre before the next school year.
The longer term plan calls for a complete rebuild of all classroom and administrative space at the school.
The project is expected to cost in excess of $7 million, and will be funded by the Department of Municipal Affairs and the Department of Education.
A tender is being called for the interim classroom space.
Once the new school is completed, the temporary classrooms will be converted to a future town hall.
Education Minister Clyde Jackman said the project will benefit the whole community.
“This has been a very complicated process, and I thank all parties for their patience and co-operation, and for coming up with a solution that addresses two needs in the community,” he said.
“At the end of the day, the students of Charlottetown and surrounding area will have a safe school in which to learn and grow, and the town will have a municipal building which will serve their needs for many years to come.”
Cartwright-L’Anse au Clair MHA Yvonne Jones applauded the announcement.
“I am very pleased to hear that the provincial government has a plan to replace both William Gillett Academy and the community center,” she said. “Both of the buildings were severely water damaged and contained high levels of contamination with the presence of mould. Eventually, the proposal put forward by government will give the teachers and students a safe and modern learning environment and at the same time replace the community center that was demolished earlier this year.”
Features of the rebuilt school will include:
• All new classroom space, built with new materials, on a concrete foundation;
• A new skilled trades room/science lab;
• A new resource centre/computer room;
• A new home economics /lunch room;
• A new distance learning room;
• A new special education/challenging needs room;
• A new music room/stage, complete with new stage lighting and curtains;
• Full accessibility;
• New heating and electrical systems; and,
• A new mechanical ventilation system.
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