Quesnel Junior School’s (QJS’) move from its current location in North Quesnel to Maple Drive Junior School (MDJS) has been delayed.
The Quesnel School District and Board of Education issued a press release today (Mar. 1), stating that factors “beyond the control of the District” have meant the junior school students will not be relocated by the March 2018 deadline set out in November 2017.
Maple Drive Junior School requires renovation to accommodate the move, which began after the original move announcement, but the School District press release says the bid process for the work was delayed due to the “complex nature and scope of work to be performed”, and the awarding of the contract to third-party contractors was also delayed.
Other factors contributing to the delay include the recent cold, snowy weather.
The press release said a late ground thaw will make installation of portables at the site challenging, and that the weather will delay work on the MDJS parking lot.
In addition, the School District release said that “certain supplies and materials which are of significant importance to staff and students would not be available until later than anticipated”.
Gloria Jackson, chairperson of the Board of Education, says MDJS will be ready for the 2018/19 school year.
“We will complete over the summer and students will start there in September for the new school year.
“We decided it would be best to have a smooth transition for them to move to the new building, rather than having peices that weren’t completed.”
The junior school move was announced Nov. 21 2017, as QJS, which was built in 1950, is in need of significant repair. The Ministry of Education pledged $1.7 million to renovated MDJS to accommodate Quesnel’s approximately 400 Grade 8 and 9 students.
The move was supposed to take place over spring break, in mid-March this year.
The Ministry of Education called the move a temporary solution, which will allow the province and the district to investigate longer-term options for grade 8 and 9 students in Quesnel.