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POUCE
COUPE – Peace River South MLA Blair
Lekstrom today joined Peace River South board of education chair Judy Clavier,
educators, parents and students to open the $4.4-million replacement of Pouce
Coupe elementary school, which will better serve students and the community.
“I am very excited with the direction the new school is
headed,” said Lekstrom. “This school was built as a collaborative effort
between Pouce Coupe and the Province and has a modern, environmentally friendly
design that will suit the needs of the students, staff and the community as a
whole.”
This
replacement also allowed the Village of Pouce Coupe to incorporate a community
hall and library within the school. The Province provided $3 million to build
the school and the Village provided $1,365,000 in additional funding for the
community hall and library.
The school district ensured the replaced school is more
environmentally friendly by incorporating water conservation, energy efficiency
and indoor environmental quality into the design.
“This new school provides a safer and healthier place for
students to learn and grow,” said Education Minister Shirley Bond. “This new,
multifunctional elementary school helps strengthen the village of Pouce Coupe
by incorporating these community-oriented facilities.”
Due to declining enrolment in the district, the new
school has a smaller capacity of 115 students. In 2007, the school had 90
students, while the current capacity is 290 students. The multi-purpose
facility sets a new standard for partnerships between the ministry and
communities to move projects forward.
“We
are very pleased that our elementary students have a new place to learn,” said
board chair Judy Clavier. “Students will benefit the most by having the
community hall and library right in the school.”
Since 2001, the
Province has invested $9.8 million on
school maintenance projects in the Peace River South school district, including
26 new school buses for the district.
During the same
period, government has spent more than $1.3 billion to complete 26 new schools,
41 replacement schools, 147 additions, 25 renovations and 20 site acquisitions
across British Columbia. By the end of 2008-09, government will have invested
more than $3.1 billion in school capital and maintenance projects across B.C.
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contact: |
Ministry of Education 250 356-5963 |
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