Northland School Division receives $12.4 million for two new schools
$207 million total province-wide investment in school infrastructure
High Prairie... Students in the Northland School Division will benefit from a major investment in school infrastructure. Government is investing $12.4 million over three-years to ensure students are able to learn in a modern, safe environment, while also addressing space issues resulting from anticipated community growth.
"During our 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 toward 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."
Two new schools will be built in the Northlands School Division. A new $9.1 million school will replace the existing Bishop Routhier School located on the Peavine Métis Settlement. The replacement facility will accommodate the needs of 300 Kindergarten to Grade 9 students within the settlement, and will also allow for construction of CTS space. In addition, a new $3.3 million school will be built on the East Prairie Métis Settlement to accommodate 150 students to address space issues resulting from an increase in student population.
"This announcement is very welcome, and addresses our two most critical education infrastructure priorities," said Pearl Calahasen, MLA Lesser Slave Lake. "I know that our education stakeholders - Northland School Division, Bishop Routhier Local School Board Committee and the Peavine Métis Settlement - worked closely to make this new school a reality. Having a school built in East Prairie Métis Settlement will also ease the transportation issues many families in the area have been experiencing."
School construction details will be finalized and jointly determined by the school board and officials from Alberta Education and Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation.
These projects 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 investment in school infrastructure. This new funding is being distributed throughout the province to address top school infrastructure priorities and to ensure dollars are directed to critical areas. Details on portables/modular classrooms and francophone school infrastructure will be finalized and announced later this fall. An announcement regarding a special Lethbridge school project will be made next week.
