Saint John’s south-central peninsula will have to go at least another year without a new K-to-8 school.
The Department of Education’s $72.6-million capital budget for 2021-22 includes funding for just one new project.
A total of $3 million has been set aside for a new K-5 school on Fredericton’s north side to address overcrowding.
According to the department, the project was identified as the “most crucial priority” this year through its capital planning and evaluation process.
The south-central peninsula project was ranked third on the list of identified priorities from the province’s seven school districts.
“We know there are a number of projects that local communities and district education councils wanted to see move forward,” said Education Minister Dominic Cardy in a news release.
“While we do not have the resources to fund every project at this time, we remain committed to working with the districts to ensure that the needs of students across the province are met.”
A total of $67.1 million will be used to support ongoing major construction projects, capital equipment and improvement work.
Four projects at various stages of planning and construction will continue, including design for a new West End K-8 Moncton school; construction of the new anglophone K-8 school in Hanwell; construction of the new francophone K-8 school in Moncton; and installing playground equipment and public art at the new Ecole Arc-en-ciel in Oromocto.
Included in the budget for ongoing projects is $23.6 million which will go toward repairs, upgrades, equipment and the dust collector program.
