Funding to build one new school and put an addition on another was announced for Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board. Two business cases submitted to the Ministry of Education in June 2012 were approved for $14.4 million.
In north Belleville, $11.6 million is being provided to replace Harmony Public School. Over the past few years the Harmony PS student population has increased due to growth north of 401, putting pressure on the school capacity. The new school will eliminate the existing portables and provide a modern learning environment to support student learning. Design planning will begin soon, with the first step being to select an architectural firm. The new school is scheduled to be ready for September 2014 and will accommodate approximately 590 students.
In east Belleville, $2.8 million is being provided to create a six-classroom addition at Harry J. Clarke Public School (HJC). Currently, Kindergarten and Grade 1 students are located at the nearby Sir Winston Churchill facility. HJC students are located at three different locations: Sir Winston, Harry J. Clarke and the Grade 7/8 Destinations Programme students are at Moira Secondary. The addition will allow the students at Sir Winston Churchill to return to HJC. It will also provide new, modern Full-day Kindergarten spaces for the introduction of that program in September 2014. Design planning will begin soon on the design, with the first step being to select an architectural firm. The renovation is scheduled to be ready for September 2014 and will add approximately 150 students to the current population of roughly 590 students.
"This investment in our Board is welcome news. It supports our multi-year plan to consolidate and renew our schools to ensure our students have modern, safe learning environments,"said Dwayne Inch, Chair of the Board.
The Ministry of Education has announced it will invest close to $700 million in Ontario schools by building 39 new schools and renovating 48 others.
For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, [email protected]