Progress on Cape Breton School Upgrades

School renovations in the Cape Breton-Victoria School Board are on course, said Education Minister Karen Casey during a visit to Riverview Rural High School in Sydney River today, May 2.

Upgrades to Riverview High began in 2004, part of a $7.1 million multi-year project. A new entrance will be completed, to complement work done on the roof and siding, and there will be a new music room and drama space. A new air-handling unit will improve air quality in the gymnasium.

"I am pleased to confirm that upgrades to Riverview Rural High and Sydney Academy will continue this year. As well, final site selection and planning work for Northside Elementary and Glace Bay Junior High will begin," Ms. Casey told school board chair Darlene Morrison and superintendent Ed Davis.

Once planning is completed for these schools, construction tenders can be announced and work should begin in 2008-09.

The Department of Education has been working with the board to find a suitable, safe site for the Glace Bay school; more than 20 sites were proposed and evaluated. The network of underground mines posed a threat at many proposed sites. The board requested that both schools proceed at the same time.

At Sydney Academy, new change rooms and a music room will be built this year, in the final phase of a multi-year, $8.28-million project. Renovations to the science labs and cafeteria, and exterior glazing for the Terrace Street wing, have been completed.

Ms. Casey visited École NDA in Cheticamp today to see the renovations at that school.

Ms. Casey will visit Sydney Academy, Glace Bay High and St. Mary's Elementary on Thursday, May 3.