Planning for the construction of the new Kindergarten to Grade 12 school in Souris has begun with the naming of the construction planning committee, says Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Doug Currie.
“I am very pleased to see the new Souris school project moving forward,” said Minister Currie. “I would like to thank the new chair of the committee, Gar Andrew, and the other members of the construction planning committee for committing to this project. Credit needs to be given to the Souris Parents for Learning committee who showed a great deal of foresight and patience in working with our educational partners. Now that the construction committee is in place we can move forward with the land acquisition and construction of the new facility which is estimated to cost 20 million dollars. ”
The new Kindergarten to Grade 12 school project was announced in the capital budget last fall. One million dollars has been set aside for the first year of planning. The committee that has been identified for this project has school administrators, parents, teachers, and school board and government officials. The members include:
• Gar Andrew - Chair
• Joan Lambie - Souris parent
• Teri Hall - Souris parent
• Anna MacKenzie - Principal, Souris High
• Sharon McIntosh - Principal, Souris Consolidated
• Chris MacAulay - Teacher, Souris High
• Suzanne Howlett - Teacher, Souris Consolidated
• Tyler Richardson - Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal
• Anne Hall - Eastern School District
• John Cummings - Eastern School District
• Gordon MacFadyen - Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
• Kathy McDonald - Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
This committee will be using the report prepared by the Souris School Program and Curriculum Planning Committee which was created last year to provide opportunities for representatives from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, the Eastern School District, parent councils, Souris Consolidated School, Souris Regional High School and the PEI Home and School Federation to meet, discuss and develop a report that would outline the best program and curriculum offerings for the new school. The work of this committee will help to guide the work of the construction planning committee as they develop plans for the new facility in Souris.
“We are approaching the building of the school in Souris in a new way,” said Minister Currie. “We asked parents, teachers, administrators and community members to come together and let us know what the needs and wants are for the community of Eastern Kings. Now, the new construction planning committee will use that information to help create a new and modern facility that will not only provide a place for the students of Souris to learn curriculum but also help them to prepare for the competitive 21st century global workforce.”
The final report of the Souris School Program and Curriculum Planning Committee is available on the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development website at
http://www.gov.pe.ca/eecd/publications.