Over 200 schools to be reviewed after the closure of two high schools due to structural safety concerns in recent weeks
The government of New Brunswick has ordered a structural safety review of 229 schools in the province after two schools were closed due to safety concerns in recent weeks.
Two high schools in Moncton and Campellton were closed due to various safety issues including asbestos, water damage and corroded support beams. More than 1,700 students have been displaced to other schools.
All schools built before 1980 will undergo the review by the Department of Supply and Services which are set to begin immediately, said Education Minister Jody Carr.
“The older schools — there’s over 200 — that will take a great amount of work to begin with to do those initial structural assessments, but we’ll have that as our starting point,” Carr said at a press conference on Monday.
The minister will also be reviewing the New Brunswick auditor general’s 2005 report which stated some schools were in need of significant repair. The report also criticized the province’s maintenance of schools and lack of addressing issues in a timely manner.
“This is a good opportunity to bring that back (the report) and take a look to see what we need to do to move forward,” Carr said.
While the repairs to schools under review may be expensive, Carr said they will be made even if it requires a re-evaluation of other projects.
