By Val Matthias. Updated 12:42 p.m., Wednesday, August 26, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Residents of Sandy Bay are being asked to help determine the location and design of a new secondary school, with the project manager saying the facility should reflect the needs of the community it will serve.
The consultation was held on Tuesday August 25th, at the old Sandy Bay Secondary School as part of the School Improvement Project, which includes the construction of the new school.
Project Manager Dimitri Samuel said the government was seeking the views of residents because the school would become more than a place for teaching.
“A school is more than brick and mortar,” he told the consultation, describing it as an institution that could become the heart of the community.
Mr Samuel said the proposed school should have spaces that could also accommodate community meetings, gatherings and other activities.
He said the first major question for residents was where the new school should be built.
The selected site, he said, must be accessible to students, parents and the wider community, as well as to people with disabilities. It must also be large enough to accommodate the school, with the previous design covering about 47,000 square feet and having a building footprint of about 17,000 square feet.
The project team is also looking at whether a site could accommodate facilities such as a playing field and netball court.
Environmental risks will also be a major consideration, with Mr Samuel saying the school should not be built in an area prone to flooding or landslides.
Safety and accessibility for students were also highlighted, particularly for those taking part in after-school activities.
The consultation is also seeking the community’s views on what should be included in the school’s academic and technical programmes. Mr Samuel said the current student population was about 200, although an earlier design had been planned for 400 students to allow for future growth.
He said the project team was now considering whether to design a school initially for about 200 students, with the capacity for future expansion, in an effort to keep construction costs at a reasonable level.
Residents are also being asked to help identify the courses and facilities most relevant to Sandy Bay and surrounding communities. Mr Samuel said the school could offer areas such as home economics, woodwork, mechanical and metal work, but the final design should be guided by the needs and interests of the community. He said there was no need to duplicate facilities already available nearby and that resources should be used in a way that gives Sandy Bay students the greatest educational advantage.
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