News release

New School for South Dartmouth Students

Education (July 1999 - March 2013)

The province is planning a new school for Dartmouth that will have specialty spaces, such as learning centres, to better help students succeed.

A Primary-to-Grade 9 school will be built in the south Dartmouth area, Labour and Advanced Education Minister Marilyn More announced today, Nov. 21. The school will replace Southdale-North Woodside Elementary and Prince Arthur Junior High schools, both of which are more than 60 years old.

"The province is investing in a new, modern school that will provide great learning opportunities for students in south Dartmouth for generations to come," said Ms. More. "The new facility will have more options to challenge and help students, and it will also be a wonderful asset for the community."

The school will have a cafeteria, library and specialty spaces, such as learning centres that will help students that are having difficulties with course work.

With one son in Grade 4 at Southdale-North Woodside and another in Grade 6 and set to go to Prince Arthur, Holly Brown is delighted to hear there will be a new school in her neighbourhood.

"We have a very strong sense of community here and a range of families from all different walks of life live in the area," said Ms. Brown. "A new school will be a great benefit to everyone. I'm happy that my two kids will be able to go to school together in a new school."

"This is a welcome addition to the Dartmouth family of schools and we're very happy to see the students together in one new facility," said Gin Yee, chair of the Halifax Regional School Board and the board member who represents the area. "It's a major improvement for students, teachers and families and will be a wonderful facility for the entire community to use."

The 550-student school is expected to open in 2015.

Design work will begin in the spring to determine the final cost of the project, which is expected to be about $18 million.

This is the third straight year the province will release the capital plan before the spring budget. This sends a clear signal of what the province intends to do in the year ahead, and gives the private sector greater opportunity to prepare for projects, creating efficiencies and cost savings for the province.