School 040

Project for a second high school: new call for tenders this week

Last week, the Bulletin learned in an interview with the Director General of the CSPO, Jean-Claude Bouchard, that the call for tenders for school 040 could be relaunched as early as the week of August 19.

“Everything was in order, so we plan to go back to tender next week, after ensuring that all our partners are also ready.”

CSPO had to cancel its public tender last July due to a mandatory soil test that revealed contaminants in the mercury-based soil and the presence of a wetland on the lot.  

According to Councillor Mike Duggan, the city will focus on implementing solutions for wet soils when the holiday season is over and mercury-contaminated soil can be removed without too much difficulty, given the stability of the element that was often found in pesticides.

Secondary school 040 is expected to accommodate approximately 810 students as soon as it opens in 2021 or 2022, but in the meantime, students will have to be transferred to different schools.

École secondaire Grande-Rivière is currently overflowing and will not be able to accommodate all the students for the start of the new school year in 2021. 

Mr Bouchard made a point of assuring that the directors of services, the principals and the board aim to find solutions as quickly as possible.

The Asticou Centre a possible temporary solution

In an interview on Radio-Canada, CSPO President Mario Crevier discussed the possibilities that these students could be sent to the Asticou Centre in Hull in 2021. The federal building currently accommodates the students of École secondaire Mont-Blue, which burned in September 2018.

If the reconstruction of the Hulloise secondary school is completed by the end of the year, the students of school 040 can enrol there without difficulty in 2021. If there are delays, a double schedule at Grande-Rivière secondary school is possible. (Trans.: BA)