Edmonton students to benefit from new school and added space
$207 million total province-wide investment in school infrastructure
Edmonton... Students in the Edmonton school systems will benefit from a $23.3 million provincial investment in school infrastructure which will build a new high school and add more classrooms for students in all grade levels. This is part of a three-year government investment to ensure students are learning in modern, safe environments.
"During our province's centennial, we are also investing in our future by directing emergent infrastructure funding to areas that school districts have identified as their highest priorities," said Education Minister Gene Zwozdesky. "This significant investment in our education system is the first phase of government action towards ensuring our students continue to learn in well-maintained, safe school environments."
"The Alberta Government is pleased to support the construction of new school infrastructure that will respond to the needs of students and communities," said Dr. Lyle Oberg, Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation. "By building new school infrastructure, the Alberta government is investing today's success into lasting facilities that will support the learning of students and build success and prosperity for future generations."
The province will provide the Edmonton Public School Board with $17.3 million for their top priority project - the construction of a new high school in the Riverbend-Terwillegar community in southwest Edmonton. The school will be built to accommodate 1,000 high school students. Construction details will be finalized by the board in conjunction with officials from Alberta Education and Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation.
"I am pleased with today's announcement, which responds to the concerns we've been hearing from members of our community for some time," stated Dave Hancock, MLA for Edmonton-Whitemud. "This school is a good start to alleviating increasing pressures for student space, particularly as the area continues to grow."
Edmonton Catholic Schools (ECS) has indicated that modernization and expansion projects are their number one priority to address class size guidelines and growing school enrollments. Alberta Education will provide $6 million for these projects at various ECS sites, as requested by the school board. These projects will begin as soon as possible.
These new infrastructure dollars are part of a first phase of ongoing provincial investment in school infrastructure. A total of $207 million in first quarter "unanticipated surplus" funding was allocated to Alberta Education for school infrastructure. This new funding is being distributed province-wide for top school infrastructure priorities and to ensure dollars are directed to critical areas. Additional portables/modular classrooms and francophone school infrastructure projects will be announced later this fall. An announcement regarding a special Lethbridge school project will be made next week.
