Repairs to address water damage at Charles Hays Secondary school will be underway this summer.

The budget for repairs to the school's building envelope - including exterior walls, roof, doors, windows and foundation - is estimated at about $8.6 million. The Province has budgeted $7 million in this high-priority building envelope repair, and the Prince Rupert school district will contribute the remaining $1.6 million. This is the only school in the district slated for building envelope repair.

BC Housing has an established industry-accepted repair process and has an experienced team to effectively assess, prioritize and manage repairs to buildings that are affected by moisture and water damage due to faulty building envelopes. The repairs to Charles Hays Secondary school will take about one year to complete.

Quotes:

Minister of Education George Abbott -

"This government is committed to putting families first and ensuring their health and safety. The repair work at Charles Hays Secondary will address water damage to the school and ensure that students continue to have a healthy learning environment."

Tina Last, Prince Rupert board of education chair -

"Charles Hays Secondary is more than a school - it's an important community and cultural hub. In September 2011, it will also house many more students, as we bring all of our students in grades 9 through 12 together at the school. These repairs will ensure that the school will meet the needs of our students and will continue to be a valuable resource for the community for many years to come."

Quick Facts:

* Charles Hays Secondary currently serves students from grades 8-12, with 529 students attending.

* Due to the extensive work being done, some students may have to be relocated to portables during construction.

* Since 2002, the Province has invested close to $78 million to repair building envelopes at 50 B.C. schools.

* Three repair projects worth a total of $5.7 million are currently under construction at:

o Howe Sound Secondary school in Squamish.

o Johnston Heights Secondary school in Surrey.

o Webster's Corners Elementary school in Maple Ridge.

* Seven projects in seven school districts are proceeding with the design phase, using litigation recovery funds, and will proceed to construction when additional funding is identified.

* There are 128 B.C. schools that are eligible for building envelope repairs, and they will be prioritized based on specific needs and funding availability.

* Since its inception in 2001, BC Housing has used its established process to assess more than 270 housing projects and repair more than 65 buildings, and currently has more than 40 building-envelope repair projects underway across the province.

* Since 2001, the Prince Rupert school district has received $6.38 million in annual facilities grants, funding that is provided to boards of education for projects that help extend the life of existing buildings, or to address any health, safety or emergent issues that may arise in their schools.

* During that same period, government has spent more than $1.8 billion to complete 83 new and replacement schools, 149 additions, 26 renovations and 22 site acquisitions across B.C.

* By the end of 2010-11 school year, the Province will have committed more than $3.9 billion in school capital and maintenance projects throughout B.C.

Learn More:

* Ministry of Education Capital Planning: www.bced.gov.bc.ca/capitalplanning/

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement

Ministry of Education

250 356-5963

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect