Government invests $4.4 million in Picture Butte school upgrade
$207 million total province-wide investment in school infrastructure
Picture Butte... Students in the Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Separate Regional Division will benefit from a $4.4 million expansion and modernization of St. Catherine's School. This is part of a three-year government investment to ensure student learning in a modern, safe environment that addresses community growth and space issues.
"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."
The St. Catherine's School project is comprised of two parts: an addition to address the enrolment pressures, increasing school capacity from 164 to 225 students; and modernization to meet programming needs at the school. The project would allow for CTS programming currently not available in the school. 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 Barry McFarland, MLA, Little Bow. "This investment in St. Catherine's will provide the students with a fully modernized school that will serve our community well into the future."
The upgrading and addition to the 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.
