New francophone school location revealed in Fredericton

Fredericton's new francophone school will be located on the city's north side, Education Minister Jody Carr announced on Tuesday.

The school, for students in kindergarten through Grade 8, will be built on about nine hectares near the intersection of Noble Street and Eco Terra Drive, he said.

Design and architectural work isexpected to start in September, with the school slated for completion in September 2015, said Carr.

It will accommodate 570 students, he said.

"In addition to meeting the growing need for space for students and staff, this new school will provide a positive, safe, inclusive, and dynamic learning environment," said Carr.

Fredericton's two existing francophone schools cole des Btisseurs and cole Sainte-Anne are already "filled to their maximum capacity and are even overcrowded to the point that there will be portable classrooms this year," said Gilles Bourque, chairperson of the Francophone South District Education Council.

"So this is part of the priorities for the school district for the last few years," he said.

The new school will include 30 classrooms, a library, a science laboratory, a cafeteria, music and art rooms, multipurpose rooms, space for student services and two gymnasiums.

It will also have an outdoor playground and a sports field.

cole des Btisseurs is an elementary school that opened in 2007 with about 485 students. Since then, enrolment has jumped by about 20 children every year, officials have said.

cole Sainte-Anne, for students in grades 6 through 12, is also part of a francophone school complex, which also includes a daycare, The Au P'tit Monde de Franco.