Amidst all the doom and gloom following the release of the UCP’s first budget, Cochrane’s call for a new school has been answered.
On Friday Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Education, announced 25 new capital projects for the education system across Alberta as part of Budget 2019. The town of Cochrane was awarded a new Catholic elementary/junior high school as part of the Calgary Catholic School District.
Details on location and an anticipated construction start date has yet to be announced.
“I am very pleased to see that Cochrane was awarded a new school today. Our community is one of the fastest growing in Alberta and this is a welcomed education infrastructure project,” said Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Pete Guthrie.
Guthrie said the community would still benefit from a new high school, but Friday’s announcement is a step in the right direction.
Budget 2019, which was unveiled on October 24, outlines 15 new schools to be built around the province including brand new high schools in Calgary, Edmonton, Leduc, Blackfalds and Langdon. Six schools are slated for replacement, and four will receive modernization or additions.
Moving forward, new schools will have playground funding including in their project budgets and every new K-6 school will come with a playground under the UCP government.
Together, the 25 projects will receive $397 million.
“Through our significant investment in new schools, replacements, modernizations and infrastructure upkeep, our children will continue to learn in up-to-date and safe spaces,” LaGrange said.
“This will result in better success in our classrooms. The future is bright for Alberta students.”
The recent budget also includes $1.4 billion over four years to continue work on previously announced school projects across Alberta. There are more than 60 projects underway in the province. Twenty-seven are expected to be open for the 2020-21 school year, and the remaining projects are in various stages of planning and construction.
The province had dedicated $527 million to school divisions for plant operations and maintenance to support the day-to-day upkeep of school facilities. Additionally, $194 million will support the capital maintenance and renewal of existing school buildings through the Infrastructure Maintenance and Renewal Program.
