New data posted to the provincial government’s Access to Information page shows that millions of dollars in school renovations are required over the next three years.
The ATIPP request sought a priority list for school renovations and yielded projects across dozens of schools province-wide. Nearly 50 of the projects listed were deemed the “highest” priority, with action recommended within a year or less.
In some cases, schools like St. Kevin’s Junior High in the Goulds require immediate work on windows, brick, and siding due to several leaks – carrying a price tag of $3 million.
St. Kevin’s Junior High School Gymnasium (Jeff Marshall/Facebook)
There were 29 other instances of schools needing work to fix leaks.
Several other work notices included deteriorating roofs, parking lots, and entry-ways at schools in nearly every corner of the province.
Two buildings that were once slated for demolition were also on the list.
Significant repairs are needed at Leary’s Brook and Larkhall Academy with a note indicating that even after a half million dollars in renovations, Larkhall’s life may still be “limited.”
Larkhall Academy (via Google Maps)
Government says the list should be viewed as a “working document,” and says it’s part of regular maintenance at it’s nearly 250 schools across the province.
The Department of Transportation says work is “prioritized based on factors such as health and safety, operational requirements, condition assessments, available funding, and overall capital planning.”
