Planning and construction underway to expand and enhance Island schools
New construction projects at five Island schools are on time and on budget.
Additions at Stratford Elementary, L.M. Montgomery and West Royalty Elementary will provide 34 more classrooms and space for another 640 students at these schools. This additional space will ease pressure on these and other Charlottetown schools as a result of population growth in Stratford and the area north and east of the city.
A $5.7 million addition at École-sur-Mer in Summerside will allow the school to provide high school programming. Sherwood Elementary School, built in 1956, will be replaced at a cost of $19 million.
“These major investments will greatly improve our teaching and learning environments and address pressing space issues,” said Education, Early Learning and Culture Minister Jordan Brown. “We appreciate the collaboration of parents and educators who are working with us on these projects to ensure our schools are meeting the needs of students and are able to accommodate new teaching methods and the effective use of technology.”
Stratford Elementary School
This addition is being constructed on the back of the existing school, at the end closest to Glen Stewart Elementary. A two-storey design will maximize the amount of playground area for student outdoor use.
The 24,500 square foot addition includes 14 classrooms, a music classroom, activity space, guidance offices, teacher planning areas, resource rooms, washrooms and an elevator.
Construction of the load bearing masonry walls and structural steel for the addition has been completed, as well as the exterior brick veneer, roof insulation and base membrane. The interior concrete floor slabs and concrete block partitions are being installed, as well as electrical and mechanical services. The exterior steel siding, insulation and windows will be installed during February and March. Approximately 25 people are working on the site.
All construction work will be completed prior to the start of the 2019/20 school year. The budget approved for the project is $5,046,000.
L.M. Montgomery Elementary School
The single storey 16,500 square foot addition is being built at the back of the school. It includes 10 classrooms, an activity space half the size of a school gym, teacher planning areas, resource rooms and washrooms, including a gender free washroom.
Construction of the load bearing masonry walls is 95 percent complete and structural steel work is scheduled to commence in mid-February. The building is scheduled to be closed in by the end of February, with windows to follow shortly after.
Exterior steel siding, insulation, electrical and mechanical services will begin mid to late March. Construction work on the addition will be completed by mid-August, and work on the bus, staff and visitor parking areas will be completed over the summer.
The majority of the renovation work in the existing school has been completed, including new gymnasium flooring and lighting, improved ventilation and storage racks in the boot room, and improved sound dampening measures in the music room. New boilers will be installed during the summer, as well as site work for playground structures.
The final project cost is expected to be $5,345,000.
L.M. Montgomery has an official enrolment of 441 students. The new addition will provide for growth of 160 students in this area where a great deal of development is planned or underway. It will be ready for students in September 2019.
West Royalty Elementary School
The addition of a new wing at West Royalty Elementary was expedited by one year and will now be ready for students in 2020.
The $4.9 million one-storey addition will include 10 additional classrooms and ancillary support spaces.
An aggressive approach to planning and construction is being taken to meet anticipated enrolment increases. The construction planning committee includes parents and staff who are now meeting to develop a space program for the addition.
West Royalty enrolment is now 451 students. The addition will provide room for another 200 students and room for future growth in this area which is seeing significant growth.
École-sur-Mer
The $5.7 million investment in École-sur-Mer will provide the necessary infrastructure to offer high quality high school courses.
The addition includes 5 classrooms, a teacher planning center, multi-purpose room, breakout study spaces, guidance and youth service worker offices, and a multi-functional science lab. New trades space is being constructed for carpentry, welding and automotive programs. Space is also being made available for a culinary arts lab, distance education program, student break-out spaces, inclusive education space, student council and media room.
The one storey addition will add 21,520 square feet to the Northeast end of the school.
The design development has been completed and the project is currently in the construction documentation development phase. Work will be tendered in Spring/Summer 2019, with construction beginning Summer 2019. The school is expected to be ready for students prior to the 2020-2021 school year. The budget approved for the project is $5,705,800.
Sherwood Elementary School
Planning is well underway for the replacement of Sherwood Elementary which was built in 1956.
The construction planning committee is chaired by Serge Leduc and includes representatives of the Departments of Education and Transportation, the Public Schools Branch, school staff and parents.
The committee is developing a space program for the new school which has been estimated to cost $19.2 million. It is expected to be complete in 2022-2023.
Media contact:
Jean Doherty
Education, Early Learning and Culture
902 314 5702
jmdoherty@gov.pe.ca