NORTH VANCOUVER - Construction work on the new $38-million Carson Graham Secondary is on track for completion this month.

The new educational facility, with a capacity for 1,100 students, will open its doors to students and staff Sept. 4 to mark the beginning of the 2012-13 school year.

The new replacement school is one of the most technically advanced in the province. Among its many design features, the school has a robotics and pre-engineering lab, computer animation design facilities, a full teaching kitchen, computer labs and high-tech audiovisual and data systems for classrooms. The school also has a small-scale solar-panel array on its roof that will supply a portion of the school's electricity and hot water requirements.

Demolition of the remaining old school on the site will take place this fall and winter. This will be followed by construction of a new access road, sidewalks and parking lots, as well as landscaping. These features of the new school grounds are expected to be complete by spring of 2013.

Photos of new school:

http://flic.kr/p/cRK5t3

http://flic.kr/p/cRK5m1

Quick Facts:

• Construction of the new Carson Graham Secondary school has created approximately 240 jobs.

• Since 2001, 16 capital and seismic projects worth more than $87.7 million have been completed in the North Vancouver school district, including the following replacement schools: Lynn Valley Elementary, Sutherland Secondary, Westview Elementary and Highlands Elementary.

• The B.C. government also has invested $195,000 for 13 classroom conversions for full-day kindergarten in the North Vancouver school district.

• The B.C. government is currently working to upgrade, replace and build a total of 60 schools throughout B.C. over the next four years. The total cost of these projects is approximately $1.5 billion.

• Since 2001, government has spent more than $2.1 billion to complete 93 new and replacement schools, 150 additions, 27 renovations and 22 site acquisitions.

Learn More:

BC's Education Plan: http://www.bcedplan.ca/

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963