Expansions Approved At Three Hanover Schools

The Hanover School Division has announced plans to add eleven new classrooms by September, 2016.

Superintendent Randy Dueck says the province has approved expansions in Grunthal, Blumenort and Niverville in order to keep in line with provincial requirements. Dueck says the province has a goal that every Kindergarten to grade 3 class in Manitoba has no more than twenty students by 2017.

He notes Hanover has not reached that level and in order to address the need, the province has approved additional classrooms. As a result, Blumenort School will be getting two new classrooms, while South Oaks School in Grunthal will see four new classrooms and Niverville Elementary School will get another five classrooms.

Dueck says once those classrooms are built, it will bring class sizes at those three schools to within provincial requirements. However, that is based on current enrolment. Dueck says if those communities continue to grow, there will be further challenges in the future. He notes they are pretty close to the required size at all other schools in Hanover. Meanwhile he says Hanover is adding seven new staff positions next year for its K-3 classes.

Dueck is hopeful these projects will go to tender in June, with construction to begin shortly after. Once complete, the expansion should replace the portable currently at Niverville Elementary School. But, Dueck says portables will still likely be needed in Blumenort and Grunthal.

*Note* Niverville expansion drawing not available