Clare-Weymouth School Construction Plan Unchanged

A new school project in St. Bernard, Digby Co., will proceed as originally planned, after school board and community groups in the Clare-Weymouth area were unable to reach consensus on other options.

In early December, Department of Education officials had offered two other options for school construction in the area, in response to concerns about the location of a new facility and availability of programs.

However, since there was no consensus on an appropriate alternative, the Department of Education has authorized the contractor to proceed with construction of a Grade 7 to 12 school in St. Bernard for students of the Tri-County District School Board. A tender for the project was awarded in October.

"We will proceed with the approved project," said Education Minister Jane Purves. "It was worth considering other options, but the lack of consensus in the community only underlines how complex a situation this is."

Both the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP) and the Tri- County District School Board voted in favour of the present plan, which was itself determined after community consultation. Other community groups and individuals preferred other options.

The new school in St. Bernard will house English students now sharing the high school at Clare. Renovations will be carried out at École secondaire de Clare and Weymouth Consolidated School.

The new construction and renovations reflect the provincial government's policy to have French-only instruction available as soon as possible in homogenous facilities across the province. École secondaire de Clare is one of only three facilities shared with English students of the 20 schools in the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial system.