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New
School for Hammonds Plains
Special thanks
and appreciation to the Kingswood Ratepayers Association and
all of the residents that helped petition the Provincial Government
and School Board to make this possible. Their hard work and
dedication has certainly paid off!
February 28, 2003
The province
delivered good news today for students and teachers living and
working in one of the fastest growing communities in the province.
Premier John
Hamm announced that a new school will be built for primary to Grade 9
students in the Hammonds Plains area.
"Today's
announcement will take children out of the portables and back into
the school," said Premier Hamm. "It will also allow them to
get the education they need close to home."
The new school
will alleviate the current overcrowding situation at Hammonds Plains
Consolidated School and Madeline Symonds Middle School.
"We have
to give the students a good environment where they can learn and
where teachers can teach," said Education Minister Angus
MacIsaac. "Building and renovating schools is an important part
of our Learning for Life strategy to help improve student's education."
The Halifax
Regional School Board will establish a site selection committee and
school steering team to give students, teachers and other community
members an opportunity to provide input into the location and design
of the new school.
"We're
extremely pleased with the announcement of a new Primary to Grade 9
school in Hammonds Plains," said Carole Olsen, superintendent of
the Halifax Regional School Board. "This was one of the board's
top priorities and without a new school, the overcrowding pressure on
both Hammonds Plains Consolidated and Madeline Symonds Middle School
would continue to increase as new families choose to locate in the area."
The total cost
of the school will be confirmed once the size of its student
population is determined through a school boundary process. The
Halifax Regional School Board is currently reviewing the boundaries
for Hammonds Plains Consolidated and Madeline Symonds Middle School
to respond to the needs of an increasing student population in this
part of Halifax Regional Municipality. It is estimated the total cost
of the school project will be between $10-15 million.
Construction
on the school is expected to begin in May 2004 and be completed in
September 2005.
There were 12
schools built and more than 150 schools renovated at a cost of close
to $200 million between 2000 and 2003. |
