New New Westminster Secondary School completion date extended until spring 2020
September 1, 2017 – The target completion date of the new New Westminster Secondary School has been extended to May 2020. “The three shortlisted design and construction teams are working hard to complete their submissions by November 2017,” said Pat Duncan, Superintendent of Schools for the New Westminster School District. “The selection committee will then review the proposals and recommend a preferred proponent to the School District in November 2017. The successful design will be presented for public comment in early 2018.”
Previous consultation with the community has informed planning to date and community consultation will continue through all phases of the Project. During Round 1 community consultation which took place from November 7 to December 5, 2016, participants were asked to comment on a series of aspirational statements for our new school. The input was considered, along with technical and financial information, in the development of the Statement of Requirements for our new school. The Consultation Summary Report for Round 1 consultation can be found here.
Duncan noted that “Round 2 community consultation is being planned now and will take place in early 2018. Students, teachers, parents, and the community will be asked for input on topics related to the design of the new school, as well as construction mitigation measures.”
Similar to Round 1, this second round of consultation will include a variety of opportunities to participate and provide feedback online, in person and by mail. Participants will be invited to complete a feedback form online or in hard copy, submit written submissions by email or mail and attend consultation meetings. Details about meeting dates, locations, and online opportunities will be provided as soon as they are available.
“We continue to engage with First Nations communities, the Chinese Benevolent Association, the Legacy Initiatives Advisory Council, Inclusion BC, and other organizations that represent communities with a history or potential history of ancestral burials on the site” said Duncan. A Memorialization Advisory Committee (MAC) has been struck and held an initial meeting on June 12, 2017 to consider how best to memorialize the dedicated and protected areas of the site that are known to have been used for burials. There will be more updates on this component of the development as planning progresses.
For more information about the Project, visit www.newnwss.ca.