Official Opening for Barrington Municipal High School

Students living around Barrington Passage have a new, environmentally friendly, energy-efficient high school.

Students, staff and elected officials joined Education Minister Karen Casey today, Oct. 30, for the official opening of the new Barrington Municipal High School.

The $13-million school is designed to accommodate up to 800 students from grades 7 to 12. There are currently 735 students enrolled at Barrington Municipal, which opened its doors to students last spring.

The school replaces the old Barrington High School, which was closed, and later demolished, because of environmental concerns with the building.

"Students of Barrington now have a wonderful new school," said Ms. Casey. "The community, the school board, and the department have all made a great effort to provide students with a modern and healthy learning environment."

The school, approved for construction in 2003, was designed by the architectural firm of Harvey-MacKenzie. The architecture incorporates a nautical theme which honours the community's seafaring heritage.

The design of the building has also earned the school an environmental award. School officials will be presented with a plaque for meeting energy-efficiency targets under the Commercial Building Incentive Program.

The school uses a unique, roof-top rainwater collection system to supply non-potable water to the school washrooms, as well as a computerized indoor climate-control system to automatically adjust temperature and ventilation throughout the school.

Enhanced security cameras and intrusion alarms have also been installed around the school.

"We thank all the partners who worked hard to make this building a reality," said board chairwoman Faye Haley. "We hope both the school and its wider community will enjoy the use the facility for many years."

Barrington Municipal High School is part of the government's multi-year, $400-million school construction plan.

Today's official opening is the second of three ceremonies planned for 2006. The completion of extensive renovations at Central Kings Rural High School will be celebrated in December. Sir John A. Macdonald High School in Tantallon was officially opened earlier this month.