News Release

DISTRICT OF NORTH CARLETON (GNB) – The provincial government will invest $2.5 million to begin the site selection and design process for a new kindergarten to Grade 8 school in the Carleton area.

“Creating a modern learning environment enables and inspires a student’s learning by giving them the tools they need to succeed,” said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Bill Hogan. “This project has been a long time in the making. I look forward to seeing it come to life for the benefit of students and families in the community.”

The new school will replace Bath Community School, Bristol Elementary, Florenceville Elementary and Florenceville Middle schools. This was recommended following a sustainability study in 2019 to address longstanding infrastructure deficiencies in the region.

The project was added to the Stable Departmental Infrastructure Priorities list in 2021 and was set to receive funding in 2024-25. The total estimated cost of the project is $42 million, and construction will begin in the 2024-25 fiscal year. The school is scheduled to open in the fall of 2026.

“This is an exciting announcement for the school district and for the community,” said Anglophone West superintendent David McTimoney. “Conversations about a new school have been happening for a long time. I am pleased to see this project move forward.”

Decisions about infrastructure planning are guided by the Quadruple Bottom Line analysis process and the Stable Departmental Infrastructure Priorities list. Using these tools and making the results public ensures transparency on how decisions regarding educational infrastructure are made.