Design work on new northside school begins
(abbreviated version of an article published in Daily Gleaner February 12/10)

Work has begun to design a new school for Fredericton's north side. A committee made up of District 18 staff, parents, members of the New Brunswick Education Department, and two principals has started compiling ideas for the school.

The elementary school, which will be built near Two Nations Crossing, will replace the Alexander Gibson Memorial School in Marysville and South Devon Elementary School.

The committee's first job is to determine how many students will be attending the new school, how many classrooms will be required and what kind of space will be needed for the cafeteria, gymnasium and other specialty rooms. The committee will also bring issues to the table such as whether there should be community facilities involved like daycares.

Once the initial work is completed, an architect is hired and the initial costs are established, the district will then have to wait to hear from the province about the budget for the school.

The building will be a P3 school, which is a partnership between the government, the district and a private company. The company will own the building and lease it to government. Leo Hayes High School is an example of a P3 school. The district has a 25-year lease at that facility.