North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice says the Province still intends to replace Prince Rupert Middle School as soon as possible.
The government has announced over $1.1 million for roofing, electrical, and boiler upgrades to the school as part of $198 million announced in annual school maintenance funding. The aging school, built in the 1960s, is rated as vulnerable to collapse in the event of an earthquake.
“We’re still working with the School District to complete a plan for replacing the school. Until everything is in place, the old school needs to fix its deficiencies in order to keep operating,” says Rice in a news release.
Three school districts in the North Coast riding will get money for capital projects:
- The Central Coast School District (SD 49) will receive $432,000 from the School Enhancement Program to complete washroom upgrades at Bella Coola Elementary, and for washroom and safety upgrades at Sir Alexander Mackenzie Secondary in Hagensborg.
- Haida Gwaii School District (SD 50) will receive $1,769,835 from the School Enhancement Fund for building envelope and retaining wall upgrades at Gudangaay Tlaats’gaa Naay Secondary School. The school will also receive $138,053 from Carbon Neutral Capital Program to install solar panels.
- Haida Gwaii school district will also receive $467,357 from the School Bus Replacement Program for four replacement busses.
- Prince Rupert School District (SD 52) will receive $1,130,000 from the School Enhancement Program for roofing, boiler and electrical upgrades at Prince Rupert Middle School.
- In addition, the Annual Facilities Grant (AFG) funding will provide $296,372 to the Central Coast School District, $542,638 to the Haida Gwaii School District, and $666,723 to the Prince Rupert School District. The AFG flow annually for routing school maintenance costs.
The provincial government says it has boosted school maintenance funding by more than $20 million over last year.
