Rick Bartolucci announces funding for renewal of Sudbury Secondary School

“The McGuinty government is supporting better learning in better buildings,” says MPP.

From left, Greater Sudbury Mayor John Rodriguez, Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci, Rainbow District School Board Director of Education Jean Hanson and Board Chair Judy Hunda during the funding announcement held on Thursday, June 18th, 2009 at Sudbury Secondary School.

Greater Sudbury – Students at Sudbury Secondary School will benefit from an investment of $15 million from the McGuinty government to support energy retrofits and the building of an addition to the existing building, Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci announced today.

“This significant investment will go a long way to enhancing students’ education for generations to come,” said Bartolucci.  “I am proud of our government’s continued support in creating safe, engaging and ‘green’ places for our students to learn and grow.”

As part of a $500 million province-wide investment, the government is providing funds to help the Rainbow District School Board address the accommodation needs of its students.

Ontario is investing in a variety of ways to improve schools and make schools better places to learn. Projects include building new schools, expanding existing school facilities and reconfiguring school space to reduce energy costs.  This also creates economic benefits, such as work for local companies and helps to support a stronger, greener economy.

“By investing in better schools for our students, we’re helping them to succeed and reach their full potential,” concluded Bartolucci.  “Investing in school infrastructure strengthens the province’s economy by creating jobs and positioning Ontario’s students for success.”

QUICK FACTS

In April 2009, Ontario announced a $550 million investment to help over 1000 schools become more energy efficient, creating and sustaining over 5,500 jobs.

Since 2003, the McGuinty government has invested $4.8 billion through the Good Places to Learn program. So far, over 12,000 school renewal projects, which include replacing roofs, windows and boilers, are completed or underway in schools across the province.

LEARN MORE

Read the government’s vision for education at www.ontario.ca.

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Contact:
Rick Bartolucci
705 675-1914

Remarks


By Judy Hunda
Chair, Rainbow District School Board


Sudbury Secondary School


Funding Announcement


Thursday, June 18, 2009


9:30 am

Good morning and thank you for this wonderful news Mr. Bartolucci.

We are ending the school year on a high note with the knowledge that we will be able to realize our vision of renewing Sudbury Secondary School.

This is an exciting time for public education as we continue to revitalize Rainbow Schools with the support of the Province of Ontario, the leadership of our dedicated Board of Trustees, and the hard work of staff.

In the next two years, Sudbury Secondary School will be renovated to ensure that it continues to provide the best educational opportunities possible in quality learning facilities.

Sudbury Secondary School celebrated its 100th anniversary last year – so it enjoys a rich tradition of excellence in our community.

Indeed, it is a flagship school in the downtown core, a school that offers diverse programs, including Arts Education.

As we renew this aging structure, we will build on this rich history and position Sudbury Secondary School for a prosperous future.

We are currently in the A-wing of the building where some work has already begun. And, shortly, we will give you a tour of what’s happening on this floor.

In this wing, we are installing new energy efficient systems, including a ventilation system that will significantly improve air quality. The windows will also be replaced, there will be new lighting and heating systems, new washrooms, a new sprinkler system, and new lockers. We are bringing the structure up to today’s building standards. And this entire facility, for the first time ever, will be accessible.

When completed, this wing will house classrooms, a completely renovated gymnasium with change rooms, a cafeteria and adult education programs. On this floor, for instance, we will have math classrooms will Smart Boards. We will also have resource rooms for students with special needs.

The oldest portion of the school, which runs along Baker Street and College Street, the portion with the highest capital needs, is being demolished next year.

A 35,000 square foot addition to the school will accommodate the Arts Education Program, with modern music rooms and studios for dance, drama, visual arts, photography, and media arts. There will also be space for rehearsals, costumes and props.

The Arts Education wing will be connected to the Sheridan Auditorium, which will also be upgraded for school and community use as part of our renewal project. There will be new seating (at long last!), a new backstage area with dressing rooms, as well as improved lighting, sound and acoustics. There will also be a new foyer to welcome the many guests who visit this facility for school and community performances. The auditorium, like the rest of the building, will be fully accessible. AND, there will be more space for parking.

When the renewal of Sudbury Secondary School is complete, we will have improved our utilization rate, addressed capital needs, incorporated green technology, reduced operating costs, created a barrier-free environment, and, most importantly, enhanced the functionality of the building to better meet the needs of students.

Mr. Bartolucci, we thank you and we thank the Province of Ontario, for enabling us to realize our vision of renewing Sudbury Secondary School with this investment. Today, we have set the stage for Sudbury Secondary School to shine brightly well into the future.