Graham Creighton Renovations Announced

Education Minister Jane Purves has announced a major renovation project for Graham Creighton Junior High in Cherry Brook. The project will ensure students are back in class at the school in the fall of 2001.

"We are delighted to move forward with this significant renovation project," said Ms. Purves. "We want to make sure students are able to return to class in their neighbourhood school as soon as possible."

Graham Creighton Junior High has been closed since December of 1999, after mould was discovered in various areas of the school. Since that time, students have been accommodated on a split-shift basis at Cole Harbour High School.

The $6 million project, approved Thursday, Aug. 3, by the province, includes a number of upgrades to make the school safer and more functional. It is expected that the building will be ready by September of 2001.

The news has been well received by the Graham Creighton community.

"I'm delighted to see that the government is acting on this," said Dawn O'Hearn, member of the Halifax regional school board representing the Graham Creighton community. "The students deserve first-class accommodations and I believe that this renovation plan will assist greatly with this objective."

Rod Cross, chairman of the School Advisory Council at Graham Creighton Junior High, said, "I am very pleased that Ms. Purves is supporting the renewal of Graham Creighton Junior High. We need to ensure that the project is completed properly and in time for students to return to school without unnecessary delay."

Students from the school will attend classes at the Gordon Bell Building in Cole Harbour for the next school year in order for the renovations to be completed.

Graham Creighton accommodates about 450 junior high school students in 28 classrooms. It was constructed in 1962 and an addition was added to the south end of the building in 1970.

In a March 2000 report, Whitman Benn Design Group suggests a number of required repairs and upgrades for the building, including: new exterior cladding, new roof, ventilation, safety systems, and other renovations. As the school could not be occupied, Minister Purves felt immediate action was required.

The Department of Education, in collaboration with school boards, will continue to develop a provincial list of renovation projects through the school capital construction committee.