Southern Alberta schools in for some facelifts

Half a dozen southern Alberta schools are in for some upgrades in the near future.

Infrastructure Minister Ric McIver travelled to Warner, Fort Macleod and Barnwell Monday to deliver the province’s plans to modernize current facilities.

Tuesday he is expected to make similar announcements at schools in Pincher Creek, Magrath and Nobleford.

The Minister says renovations include improvements to the interior and exteriors of buildings as well as more opportunities for technological training for students.

“This really speaks to our government trying to prepare the kids for the world of the future. To make sure they have the best chance to go out there and compete and win, because really a lot of places where Alberta industries compete now are on the worldwide stage,” he adds.

Mark Lowe is the current principal at Warner School and tells Global News the announcement couldn’t come soon enough.

“We have ventilation problems, leakage problems. So we’re mainly looking to have our facility brought up to good standards for our students to be able to be safe and secure in a good quality school,” he says.

Lowe goes on to say that the announcement is a big feat for Warner School which was on the verge of closing in 2001 and in desperate need of repairs for more than a decade.

“I think the government is starting to realize the rural communities do have a big impact and big contribution to make in Alberta, and to keep them strong is only smart thinking,” he says.

There is no set timeline when renovations on any of the six schools will begin, but officials say they’ve already entered the planning stages.