Dr. J. C. Wickwire Academy Renovation Feasibility Study

For Immediate Release

February 11^th 2010

Bridgewater, NS – A report commissioned by the South Shore Regional School Board to examine options for the Dr. John C. Wickwire Academy in Liverpool has been presented to the Board and is now available to the public.

The feasibility study was conducted by Connor Architects and Planners Ltd. to determine the appropriateness of renovating the Dr. John C. Wickwire Academy to address the need to replace the existing South Queens Junior High School. Currently Dr. John C. Wickwire Academy includes grades two to six in a 45,000 sqft building that was constructed in 1995.

“The school was not designed to accommodate expansion,” said Director of Operations, Barry Butler. “Because of this, and a number of other major obstacles, including environment and limits of the existing building, the study does not recommend renovating and expanding the school to accommodate the need for a middle school in the area.”

The architects suggested a new middle school could be constructed for approximately the same cost as the renovation to the Dr. John C. Wickwire Academy. “Considering the massive costs and disruption to our students, the renovation is not an appropriate option,” said Board Chair Elliot Payzant. A renovation of this size would require relocation of students for one full school year.

In response to the recommendations by the architects, the South Shore Regional School Board passed a motion to reiterate its request to the provincial government for a new grades six to eight middle school to replace South Queens Junior High, a request which was originally made in 2008. A meeting with the Minister of Education to discuss this matter has been requested.

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For more information, contact:

Trish Smith

Communications Manager

South Shore Regional School Board

tel. 541-3005

cell. 523-1664

email. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it