The following message was shared with SJAM families on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
We are sending this message on behalf of the Nova Scotia Departments of Public Works and Education and Early Childhood Development.
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Dear St. Joseph's A. McKay Elementary School families and school community,
We are writing today with an important update regarding construction of your new school.
Unfortunately, the new SJAM will still not be ready to welcome students at the start of the 2025-26 school year. This is awful news and we share your disappointment. We acknowledge how disruptive this news is, especially to your children and your family’s plans for the next school year.
The Department of Public Works is working closely with contractors and the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) to expedite the completion of the project while ensuring the highest standards of safety and quality. We are committed to providing regular updates and collaborating with HRCE to minimize the impact on students and families.
The Department of Public Works has been assured by the contractor that the school community will be able to move into the new school midway through the 2025-26 school year. HRCE will continue to relay updates on project timelines.
While these kinds of issues are not uncommon in the construction industry these days, we appreciate this project has been unexpectedly complicated. The Department of Public Works has had the construction lead add more trades workers and contractors, and we have asked them to work overtime and on weekends to get the school open as quickly as possible.
We truly appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate these challenges.
You can expect to hear from HRCE tomorrow.
Thank you.