Premier Jim Prentice announced Wednesday, a new phase in a multi-phase plan to build new schools and modernize others in the province.
Phase 3 will result in 55 new schools and 20 modernizations across the province.
That’s on top of previous announcements dating back to 2011.
Calgary will get 12 new schools, including 3 for the Calgary Board of Education.
The new CBE schools will be located in:
- Silverado
- Springbank
- Martindale
Modernizations will take place at:
- James Fowler High School
- Lord Beaverbrook High SchoolPremier Prentice says new schools are needed to meet anticipated growth in Alberta’s two largest cities.
Premier Prentice says new schools are urgently needed to meet anticipated growth in Alberta’s two largest cities.
“Edmonton and Calgary in particular are facing a circumstance where there will need to accommodate 5,000 new students each year in each city over the next 7 years”, says Prentice.”
The overall cost of $2 billion includes $43 million in funding for school boards.
“This gives us the opportunity to plan and build forward for our schools and the community. So it’s an exciting time for our parents and our students”, says Joy Bowen-Eyre, Chair of the Calgary Board of Education.
Phase 1, announced in 2011, includes new 35 schools, of which 31 are complete.
Phase 2, announced last year, includes 50 new schools and 70 modernizations.
The province says all but five announced in phase 2 will be ready to accept students in 2016.
But critics say the government has been slow to make good on their promises.
Liberal education critic Kent Hehr says, “You see that in their phase 2 announcement, there is still not a shovel in the ground on any of those 50 news schools.”
The province has appointed a four-member cabinet committee to make sure timelines and targets are met.
Since 2011, the province has announced 32 news schools for Calgary.
A list of schools in the multi-phase plan is on the province’s website at:
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