LENNOX ISLAND — The John J. Sark Memorial School on Lennox Island is gaining a classroom and a dual-purpose space that will serve as a cafeteria and an emergency shelter when needed.
Public Safety Canada is providing the funding for the emergency shelter and Indigenous Services Canada will fund the classroom expansion and other upgrades to the school.
Chief Matilda Ramjattan of Lennox Island First Nation said work will commence as the school year draws to a close and should be all wrapped up by December. She did not disclose the funding amounts as public tenders for the projects only close on May 31.
“Quite a bit” was all she said.
Ramjattan said an ice storm a few years ago that caused widespread power outages and resulted in the elementary school being turned into an emergency shelter helped drive home the need for a properly equipped shelter. During that ice storm, the toilets in the school could not keep up with the extra use. There was also no way to prepare food at the school for the ones taking shelter there.
“We realized it wasn’t conducive for a shelter; we had some needs to be met,” said the chief, who was health and emergency management co-ordinator with the Native Council of P.E.I. at the time.
The school currently has four main classrooms, a K5 Kindergarten class and combined classes for Grades 1 and 2, Grades 3 and 4 and Grades 5 and 6. The new construction will provide space in the school for a K4 classroom. The four-year-old kindergarten children are currently based out of the community’s daycare building.
Ramjattan responded with “I’m really hoping for that,” when asked whether the K4 classroom will be ready by September.
The upgrades will also allow for a larger reception area and teachers’ lounge and will provide additional space for the school’s Mi’kmaq teacher.
Mechanical, sprinkler and electrical upgrades to the school are also included in the project’s tender.
“The whole piece is going to be significant,” said the chief. “I’m just so happy that it’s happening. We want to make sure we have a really good working environment for our students and also, for whenever emergencies happen, that we are prepared for it.”
The chief expressed confidence that the work still to be completed when the 2018-19 school year gets underway can be carried out in such a way that there will be little or no disruption to students and staff. She admitted the work could cause some disruption for the community’s traditional St. Ann’s Sunday celebrations in July but suggested that with the use of an events tent and other modifications the celebration can run smoothly.
The John J. Sark Memorial School houses about 50 students from K5 to Grade 6.
