Tender Awarded for Cumberland Elementary Schools

EDUCATION--Tender Awarded for Cumberland Elementary Schools

Construction of two new elementary schools in Cumberland County will soon be underway. The tender to build the new schools was awarded today, April 16, to Marco Maritimes Ltd.

The new Amherst elementary school for 450 students will be located on Spring Street. Construction of the new school will cost about $9.3 million.

The new 350-student Cumberland elementary school will be located behind Brookdale Elementary on Highway 204. This construction project will cost about $7 million. Once students move into the new Cumberland school, the Brookdale building will be turned over to the Municipality of the County of Cumberland.

The municipalities of the County of Cumberland and the Town of Amherst will be contributing $300,000 each toward increasing the gymnasiums in both schools by 2,000 square feet.

"These new schools will provide better facilities for elementary students in Cumberland County," said acting Education Minister Angus MacIsaac. "It's great to see the municipalities contributing to the enlargement of the gymnasiums, enabling young students to pursue active, healthy lifestyles and scholastic achievements."

Phase 1 of the project is currently underway with a previously announced $4,000,000 investment in the construction of the sports fields, driveways, bus routes and road access.

The schedule for Phase 2, the construction of the schools, will be determined by Marco Maritimes Ltd. The cost for this phase is $12,328,000. Both elementary schools are scheduled for completion by spring 2005.

The departments of Education and Transportation and Public Works worked closely with the Chignecto Central Regional School Board, the municipalities of Amherst and Cumberland, and the communities to develop plans for the construction of the new schools.