Wants renovation funding on next provincial capital plan
PICTOU, NS – Pictou East MLA Tim Houston is once again asking the McNeil government for a definitive answer regarding upgrades for Frank H. MacDonald School.
The province’s capital budget is slated to come out over the next couple of months and Houston wants assurances the school will get the funding it has been promised for years.
“It’s way past time that Minister Karen Casey and the McNeil government assure parents, students, and teachers that Frank H. MacDonald School will get the necessary upgrades they’ve been waiting patiently for,” Houston said.
In 2014, the school board supported the wishes of the community and voted to close East Pictou Middle School, provided that provincial funding could be obtained to accommodate grade 7 and 8 students at Frank H. MacDonald.
That vote is only good for five years and if nothing happens in that time then the entire school review process must start once again from scratch.
That means there are only two more opportunities for the project to be included on the province’s capital budget list, either the list for 2017 or 2018, before the time expires.
“Minister Casey is on record saying Frank H. is a top priority, but every year that goes by and every capital plan that comes out without the funding for the school is another slap in the face,” Houston said. “I want assurance it will be included in this upcoming capital plan.”