News Release

GRAND FALLS (CNB) - Students at École élémentaire Sacré-Coeur in Grand Falls will have better facilities when school starts in September 2011.

These facilities will include a larger gymnasium, cafeteria and resource centre; a new music room; additional classrooms and rooms for student services.

Education Minister Roland Haché turned the sod to start the project officially. He was accompanied by parents and community representatives.

Dora Construction Ltd. won the bid for the work. The architectural plans were designed by Ronald Lapointe Architecte inc.

The work is being undertaken as part of a reorganization of schools in the Grand Falls region. This involves the closure of École Marie-Immaculée in Grand Falls and renovations to École élémentaire Sacré-Coeur as well as to École régionale-de-Saint-André in Saint-André and École Mgr-Lang in Drummond to accommodate students from kindergarten to Grade 6. The project also entails renovations to Polyvalente Thomas-Albert in Grand Falls to accommodate students from grades 7 to 12.

"This construction and renovation work will make it possible for the rationalization project to go forward and also to respond to parents' wishes to keep the elementary schools in Grand Falls, Saint-André and Drummond and the high school in Grand Falls," said Haché. "We are promoting community vitality while fostering an environment that will enable students from those areas to gain the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in New Brunswick."

The Department of Education has invested $1.92 million from its 2010-11 capital budget in the École Élémentaire Sacré-Coeur project, estimated at $4.7 million. This is in addition to the funding allocated to renovation and capital improvement projects in three other schools in School District 3. In all, the provincial government has invested more than $2.64 million in renovations and improvements to schools in its latest budget in this school district.

"We are pleased that construction will begin shortly at the Sacré-Coeur school," said Jeanne Da Gauthier, chair, District 3 Education Council. "These new facilities will benefit our students and will enable them to obtain quality learning. We also want to mention that the surrounding schools need funding to complete our reorganization project for the Grand Falls area."

Once this project has been completed, École élémentaire Sacré-Coeur will be able to accommodate 348 students from kindergarten to Grade 6.

Capital improvement projects in School District 3 in 2010-11

●    Polyvalente Thomas Albert - $350,000 for heating and ventilation.
●    Cité des Jeunes A.-M.-Sormany - $250,000 for exterior walls and doors.
●    École Marie-Gaétane - $120,000 for roof repairs.
●    École élémentaire Sacré-Coeur - $120,000 for roof repairs.

Total investment: $840,000