Education Minister Becky Druhan announced nearly $1 billion in funding for new schools at New Germany Elementary, which along with New Germany High will be replaced with a new consolidated K-12 school. Photo: Evan Taylor.
Nova Scotia’s Department of Education and Early Childhood Development has unveiled a new five-year school capital plan aimed at addressing population growth and investing in both new and existing schools. With an investment of nearly $1 billion, the plan seeks to improve school infrastructure and accommodate the increasing student population.
Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Becky Druhan emphasized the significance of the capital plan in addressing the needs of communities across Nova Scotia. Minister Druhan stated, “Our new capital plan addresses aging school infrastructure and population growth in communities across Nova Scotia. We are working with our partners and taking a strategic approach to facility replacement and upgrades, as well as land acquisitions, across the province.”
The plan was officially released today, June 16, at New Germany Elementary School in Lunenburg County, which is one of the schools that will be replaced as part of the initiative.
Key elements of the capital plan include an allocation of approximately $263 million for the construction of four new replacement schools. This includes the consolidation of New Germany Elementary and New Germany Rural High into a single pre-primary to Grade 12 school, featuring a skilled trades center and accommodating approximately 500 students. The replacement of École des Beaux-Marais in Porters Lake with a new pre-primary to Grade 8 school, which was announced on May 18 and serves approximately 250 students, is also part of the plan. Furthermore, two other replacement schools will be announced soon.
In addition to the new construction, the capital plan outlines a strategic approach to meet the increasing enrollment needs in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and other growing communities throughout the province. This includes the construction of four new schools in HRM’s growth areas, utilizing sites acquired through the $50-million strategic land envelope announced in March. The specific locations of these schools will be announced once the sites have been identified. To address immediate enrollment needs, $120 million will be invested in modular classrooms for existing schools. Moreover, $54 million will be allocated for capital repairs to preserve, refresh, and extend the lifespan of existing schools. The plan also includes $511 million to complete previously announced school projects, such as the opening of West Bedford School and West Bedford High School in September and the construction of the new Clayton Park-Fairview junior high.
The five-year plan entails a total investment of $948 million, with $240.8 million previously announced in March as part of the provincial capital plan and $707.2 million as new funding.
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development aims to create modern learning environments that cater to the educational needs of current and future students. Nancy Pynch-Worthylake, Regional Executive Director of the South Shore Regional Centre for Education, expressed her optimism about the announcement, stating, “Investment in education is also an investment in the future of our students and our community, while laying the foundation for generations to come. We are looking forward to seeing students and staff collaborating, creating, and reaching their full potential in this new and modernized facility.”
Minster Druhan was joined by Public Works Minister Kim Masland and Lunenburg MLA Susan Corkum-Greek along with students from New Germany Elementary to announce new funding for school construction around the province. Photo: Evan Taylor.
The news of the capital plan has been met with excitement by the school community. Blair Lipsett, Chair of the School Advisory Council at New Germany Rural High School, conveyed his enthusiasm, saying, “I am confident I speak for all members of the school advisory council and our school families when I say this is an amazing announcement. This ensures an environment of modern learning to meet all our educational needs now and in the future. We are very excited to have this new school in our community!”
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development has already made progress in constructing new schools. Work on the new J.L. Ilsley High School in HRM has been completed, while construction is underway for the Eastern Shore Consolidated School and St. Joseph’s-Alexander McKay Elementary School. Site selection is ongoing for several other schools, including a Halifax peninsula elementary school under the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial, Clayton Park-Fairview junior high, Glace Bay area elementary, and Northside middle school. The site selection process adheres to the guidelines outlined in the Governor in Council Education Act Regulations. Following the completion and approval of the site selection process by the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, the Department of Public Works will issue tenders for the design of the replacement schools.
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