The next move in the major overhaul of the city’s school facilities is bringing all the junior high school students educated in Corner Brook under one roof.
There was $8.5 million allotted in the last provincial budget for the redevelopment of the former Regina High School, which is still expected to be ready for September 2014, according to Ross Elliott, director of education for the Western School District.
The preliminary planning on the facility has been completed, he said, and the detailed design work is progressing in order to create tender documents for the redevelopment.
“Tender documents have to be detailed, and, when they are detailed, that ensures the precision and quality of the project as we move forward,” Elliott said.
It is anticipated the project will go to tender later this year. The remainder of the money for the $13-million project is expected to be in next year’s budget.
The budget also included funding for planning of the continued reorganization of the school system. That involves a plan to move students from Humber Elementary into G.C. Rowe, an extension on J.J. Curling, and a new school to replace C.C. Loughlin.
Two schools closing
Sacred Heart and St. Gerard’s schools are slated to be closed. Elliott previously said the money allotted in this year’s budget is to plan for the preparations of G.C. Rowe as an elementary school and the redevelopment and extension to J.J. Curling. The replacement facility for C.C. Loughlin was not included.
A consultant has been appointed to oversee the preliminary planning for J.J. Curling and G.C. Rowe. Elliott said the detailed enrollment projects for the city — including the numbers for the specific zones and streets — is being compiled. It is being done to determine the space requirements for each school.
Engineering assessments are also being completed on those two buildings to figure out what work needs to be done to meet those space requirements and alleviate any mechanical, electrical or infrastructure needs.
churley@thewesternstar.com
Twitter: WS_CoryHurley
