Achi news desk-
The New Brunswick government has announced a new community hub that will be integrated into the new elementary school to be built in the north end of Saint John.
A Friday news release from the province says the hub will include childcare facilities, including a dedicated licensed early learning hub for children up to four years of age, as well as places for school-age children. It will also have a utility room and community office.
In the statement, the province’s minister of education and early childhood development said the new hub will serve many purposes.
“Schools no longer serve only as places of learning, but often become the heart of the community,” said Bill Hogan.
“A hub of this type will not only provide a space for children to continue to develop their skills outside of school hours, but will have a positive impact on the community it serves for years to come.”
The original project for the school announced in the capital budget for 2023-24 came with a price tag of $41.69 million. The new community hub will bring additional costs of just over $12 million, bringing the project’s grand total to $53.71 million.
Hogan says the project will be monitored to see what is successful, and use that to implement future projects.
“In September we announced a school instead of two schools that have hosted programs that have benefited this community for over half a century,” said Hogan.
“We are pleased that the addition of a community hub to this new school will ensure continued access to these types of programs for all residents of the north end of Saint John in a modern environment. We will monitor the impact closely and use what we learn to inform future projects.”
The new facility will accommodate 522 students, and will replace Hazen White-St. Francis and Centenary School, which are both more than 55-years-old.
The new community hub will be attached to the school, but will operate as its own independent facility.
Construction of the new school and community hub is expected to begin in September, and both are expected to open in September 2027.
