LUNENBURG - The South Shore Regional School Board has determined the terms of reference for a committee which will oversee the construction of a new school in the Lunenburg area.

 The 17-person school steering committee is expected to be a key advisory group during the course of the project.

 "It will be most active during the conceptual and design development phases, where prioritization of items is required," said a draft copy of the terms of reference, which were approved during an April 22 meeting.

 The committee's role includes:

• Assisting the board to identify three acceptable sites for the location of the new school. The board may also choose to have a different group involved in this process.
• Working with the board, the Department of Education and the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal throughout the design phases to assist in planning the general floor plan layout of the building.
• To act as an information source for the communities they represent.
• To be an advisory body, not an approval authority.

 The committee's three-member design and construction management team will include representatives from the Departments of Education and Infrastructure Renewal, along with Barry Butler, the board's director of operations. That management team is expected to report back to the school steering committee on a regular basis.

 The committee will also include one board member; a board co-ordinator; the new school's principal; four key school employees; the school advisory council chairs of Lunenburg Academy, Lunenburg Junior/Senior High School, Centre Consolidated School, and Riverport and District Elementary School; two representatives of the Municipality of Lunenburg and one representative of the town.

 Although typical school steering teams contain student representation, this one does not.

 The provincial government announced plans for a new, $21.5 million Primary to Grade 9 facility in the Lunenburg area on April 14.

posted on 04/28/09