New School for Northside Students

A new $16-million school in North Sydney will serve 850 northside area elementary and junior high students.

The school is part of a series of multi-year investments to improve and build schools for Nova Scotia's students.

"Our schools are at the heart of our communities, where young Nova Scotians can learn and grow to their full potential," said Economic Development Minister Cecil Clarke, on behalf of Education Minister Angus MacIsaac. "This new school is an investment in our students and for the northside community."

Construction will begin on Northside Elementary Junior High in 2005-06 and will be completed in 2008-09.

The 59,892 square foot school will have 11 elementary classrooms and 16 junior high classrooms. It will have two science rooms and a general science lab, learning support and reading recovery rooms, visual arts, music and drama rooms, and technology education and family studies areas.

The new school will also have a library, cafeteria, space for a teen health centre and 6,500 square foot gym.

"This is great news. We appreciate this investment in our northside students," said Keith Bain, vice-chair of the Cape Breton-Victoria School Board. "Building a new school for this community's elementary and junior high students demonstrates the province's commitment to safe, healthy learning environments."

School boards submit their priorities for new schools and renovations to the Department of Education. The department asks a capital construction committee to review the board priorities in order to develop a provincial priority list. The committee has representatives from the Nova Scotia School Boards Association, and the departments of Education, Finance, and Transportation and Public Works.