Education minister promises 5 new school projects

The Progressive Conservative government will begin the process of building five new school projects across the province, Education Minister Jody Carr announced on Wednesday.

The Alward government announced its capital project on Tuesday that set aside $943 million for different projects. The majority of the funds are for previously announced projects or to finish the Route 1 highway project.

The various government departments began outlining their budget estimates in the legislature on Wednesday.

The Department of Educations capital budget set aside $104 million for new school projects in 2012-13.

"By investing strategically, we can better manage our infrastructure and provide a safe and healthy learning and work environment," Carr said in a statement.

"Through continued collaboration with our key stakeholders in education including parents, community members, district education councils and districts, our government has managed to make wise decisions that will meet the needs of our students."

The five new construction projects included in Carrs capital budget include:

• a new anglophone school in Quispamsis
• a new francophone K-5 school in the Kennebecasis Valley
• a new K-8 school and community centre in Tabusintac
• a new francophone K-8 school in Fredericton north
• major renovations to the Geary Elementary Community School

In most cases, the schools are due to open 2014. The next New Brunswick election is also scheduled for 2014.

The Tabusintac school and community centre has been an ongoing controversy in the northeastern community. The education minister promised tostudy the potential for a schooland community centre complex last year.

The new francophone schools in Fredericton and Quispamsis are intended to help ease the pressure on existing schools that are struggling to find room for an overflow of students.

In Fredericton in 2007, a new elementary school was added to the francophone school complex, which also includes a daycare, and a school covering grades 6 through 12. But it is already too small.

The education minister has also beenlobbied from parents in the Kennebecasis Valleyfor a new French school.

The Department of Education will also move forward with construction on 10 projects across the province:

• the new Moncton High School
• the new anglophone K-8 school in Riverview
• Kennebecasis Park School
• Southern Carleton
• Woodstock Centennial
• Lower Lincoln Elementary Community School
• Fredericton North School
• the new francophone school in Moncton north
• the new cole Sainte-Bernadette
• the reorganization of francophone schools in the Grand Falls area