Two Lacombe schools to get $4.3 million upgrade
$207 million total province-wide investment in school infrastructure
Lacombe... Students in the Lacombe community will benefit from two school modernization projects that will enhance the learning environments for students in both the public and Catholic school systems. The province will invest $4.3 million over three years in these projects.
"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 modernization of school infrastructure will provide enhanced learning facilities for students and communities," said Dr. Lyle Oberg, Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation. "By preserving and protecting our infrastructure, the Alberta government is investing in the facilities that will support student learning now and in the future."
Funding is being directed to the two school jurisdictions to address their top infrastructure priorities. Nelson School will be transferred to the St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Separate Regional School Division and will be modernized at a cost of $1.2 million to address the district's need for an additional school facility. Wolf Creek School Division will receive $3.1 million in additional funding towards the modernization of Lacombe Composite High School. Construction and transfer 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 Ray Prins, MLA Lacombe-Ponoka. "I know our students, parents and teachers are excited about this new investment, which goes a long way towards alleviating the education infrastructure concerns we've identified in our community."
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 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.
