Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Baker Lake (Jun 18/01) - A new high school accounts for the lion's share of $14 million in spending on education projects in the Kivalliq region.
The $13 million school will replace Jonah Amitnaaq secondary school, built in 1957. Construction begins this summer and is scheduled for completion in 2003.
According to Lorne Levy, manager of capital planning with the Nunavut Education Department, the Baker Lake school is nearing the end of its life.
"The new school is being built because of the age and condition of the old school," said Levy.
Joe Aupaluktup, chair of the Baker Lake District Education Board, said the new school is being welcomed with "relief rather than enjoyment."
Aupaluktup said his community had been asking for a new school for a few years and it seemed like the government had turned a deaf ear.
He said the ventilation system in the old school was falling apart. Sometimes students and teachers went home with headaches and suffering from nausea.
Money is also to be spent on preliminary planning for an overhaul to Inuglak School in Whale Cove, said Levy.
Around $80,000 has been set aside for the planning phase of a new addition to the school.
"We're working with the school authority and staff as to what should be included," said Levy.
Dawn Brigham, acting program manager for the Kivalliq region's Department of Public Works and Services, said a new gymnasium is needed at the Whale Cove school.
"Students have to go off site (for gym class)," she said.
Currently, the school uses the community hall.
Departments in the territory implement projects through the Department of Public Works.
Also the Arctic College head office is moving from Rankin Inlet to Arviat this summer.
According to Levy, Arviat's old health centre building will be renovated at a cost of $670,000 to become the new headquarters.
Arviat is also getting a new health centre.
Baker Lake is the site for the new territorial library which is also in the planning phase.
Levy said $245,000 has been set aside for the phase.
"We're looking to find a location to build it," said Levy.
"Basically it will be a territorial repository and distribution centre," said Levy.
Previously the Nunavut government had a contract with the NWT territorial library in Hay River.
Until a new home is built, the Nunavut territorial library is located in the Government of Nunavut's Construction Corporation building, also in Baker Lake.
"It's going to be an exciting summer of projects," said Brigham.
