The cost of a new school is double the price it is to renovate Pentz or Petite Riviere Elementary.
That’s according to a report conducted by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal and Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
The report states the cost of an addition and alteration to Pentz is over $5.5 million and just over $6-million for Petite Riviere.
The report says the cost of a new school would be roughly $11-million and an A&A at either school would provide the best value to the province and the communities.
Chair Jennifer Naugler says the board has to discuss the report.
“We need to look at the report and see what sort of information has been brought forward and continue discussion with the minister around this.”
The board will review the report at a later date.
However, they request a new school from the province in their 2017-2020 capital plan.
Meanwhile, families of Pentz Elementary are asking the board to keep their school open.
Over half a dozen letters were submitted.
J.C. Reddy spoke to the board and says the situation has turned into a battle of “Pentz versus Petite.”
However, the community simply wants what’s best for students.
“We don’t want to see excessive travel times. We don’t want to see access issues.”
Reddy says the board should be patient and release A&A information to the public.
He adds, right now, there are too many unknowns to make a hasty decision.
