Contractor chosen for new Hornepayne school

NEWS RELEASE

ALGOMA DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

************************* Contractor approved for Hornepayne JK to 12 school

The Algoma District School Board (ADSB) is proposing to construct a new JK to Grade 12 School in Hornepayne, approximately 3,700 square metres in size, which would replace the existing elementary school on the site.

At the ADSB committee of the whole meeting held last night, it was announced that Monteith Building Group Ltd. is the successful general contractor for the construction of the new Hornepayne JK to 12 school.

The new school is expected to open September 2011.

Director of Education Mario Turco is very pleased. “We appreciate the work of the ministry staff, MP Mike Brown in working with the ministry and the provincial expert panel for assisting in the design of this brand new state-of-the-art school. We are very pleased to have a general contractor who has worked extensively in Northern Ontario as well as many northern sub-contractors building this marvellous new JK-Grade 12 School in the community of Hornepayne.”

Wanda McQueen, chair of the board, is excited that this impressive facility will now be a reality for this community.

“The board is very appreciative of all the hard work from everyone including our parents, students, staff, community members and architects who have played a very important role in making this new school a reality. We look forward to the shovel hitting the ground before the end of this school year and completion of the school before September 2011.”

On May 18, three bids were received from general contractors for the construction of the new school.

On review of the tender bids Monteith Building Group Ltd. with offices in Orillia, North Bay and Timmins was the lowest bidder at $12,612,000 for the cost of construction of the new school.

The total funding required from the ministry is expected to be $14,740,743 which covers the construction costs and the additional costs associated with taxes, furnishings and equipment, architectural and consultant fees as well as disbursements and licensing costs.

The design and bid process has been closely monitored by ministry staff as well as an expert panel made up of representatives from school boards who are very experienced in the construction of new schools.

Ministry staff has reviewed the bids and is presenting this to the minister of education for review and approval.

Administration is currently awaiting final approval of the required funding for the Hornepayne project.

It is expected that construction could begin by the end of this school year.

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