New $11.3 million school to be built on Olds Community Learning Campus
$207 million total province-wide investment in school infrastructure
Olds... Students in the Chinook's Edge School Division will benefit from a new $11.3 million high school as part of the Olds Community Learning Campus. This three-year government investment will build a high school on campus that helps students make a seamless transition to the workplace, trades apprenticeships, college, or university, while allowing them to remain in a rural community.
"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."
The high school will provide classroom space for approximately 750 students in Grades 9 to 12, and is scheduled to open in the fall of 2007 or early 2008. Construction details will be finalized and jointly determined by the school board and officials from Alberta Education and Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation.
"This announcement is very welcome," said Richard Marz, MLA Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. "I know our students, parents and teachers are excited about this new high school, which encourages our youth to pursue lifelong learning, and to do so without having to leave our community."
This new school is 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.
