WHEREAS the recent Three Oaks Senior High School renovation project (2016-2019) has been a challenge for many involved and many lessons have been learned, and

WHEREAS a number of students reported adverse effects parents feel were directly related to construction, and

WHEREAS there was an acknowledged removal of asbestos without use of hazardous material protocols in the very early days of the project while students, staff and custodians were present, and

WHEREAS the school year was shortened for two consecutive school years (one week in 2016/2017 and two weeks in 2017/2018) and the marks of students may be effected by reduction in the number of classes attended during the school year, and

WHEREAS a reduction in marks may mean the difference of being admitted to a post secondary institution of choice or even passing a subject and/or a school year, and

WHEREAS classes were at times affected by construction noise, occasionally to the point students could not hear teachers, and

WHEREAS some students are particularly effected by construction noise e.g. ADD/ADHD, and

WHEREAS perception of a valuable school renovation project and morale of the construction staff and school staff was negatively affected, and

WHEREAS parents were not initially aware of the full effects of the construction project, and

WHEREAS some parents and students were reluctant to step forward to mention issues, and

WHEREAS quality of education for all students must be at kept in highest consideration during construction or and/or renovation projects;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the PEI Home and School Federation request the Public Schools Branch, Department of Education, Early Learning and Culture and other government departments responsible for school renovations and construction to implement the following guidelines:

1. Any school renovation or construction to be preceded by a public consultation meeting involving all stakeholders with minimum of one month of well advertised notice to the school community. Advertising should include notice to parents via SAS school mail.

2. Public consultation meetings to disclose to the fullest extent possible the scope and duration of the project taking into consideration:
   1.  any effects the project will have on school availability
   2. proper notice of the presence of hazardous materials taking into consideration the renovation
   3. whether or not the renovation or construction will change the number of instructional days the school will be available to students
   4. when the renovation or construction will make the school unavailable for extracurricular activities normally held at the school, and
3. Establish a method to allow staff, students and parents to freely raise any issues related to the renovation or construction
4. Removal of hazardous materials from affected areas of the school to be completed before students and staff are present and before other construction begins in order to avoid disturbance of those materials, even in non-construction areas, during the construction process e.g. dust falling from ceiling tiles
5. Should construction be sufficient to require hoarding and be done while students are present that regular particulate air quality testing be done during the project. Test results are to be published for students and parents.
6. Regular construction updates should be made available
7. Acceptable levels of noise should be agreed upon so as not to interrupt classrooms and those levels should be enforced.