(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
April 12, 2019 - 2:49 PM
KAMLOOPS — A Kamloops high school well over its enrolment capacity will receive a multi-million dollar upgrade to double its capacity by September 2020.
Education Minister Rob Fleming who made a stop in the Tournament Capital today, April 12, to announce the $32.7 million project to upgrade Valleyview Secondary School.
“Our government is working hard to give every B.C. student the best learning experience possible,” Fleming said in a news release. “With 20 new, modern classrooms, a new gymnasium, multipurpose space and special education classrooms, Valleyview students will have a more enjoyable and engaging experience at school.”
The province says the project will include a 525 seat addition. The Kamloops School District is contributing $1.75 million to the project.
Currently, Valleyview Secondary has capacity for 675 students but a 2018 to 2019 enrolment of 942, the ministry says. Without this expansion, the school would be operating at 163 per cent over capacity in five years. The upgrades will bring the high school’s capacity from 675 to 1,200.
There are currently nine portables on site however enrolment projections show there will be no more need for portables once the addition is complete, the ministry says.
“SD73 is pleased to be able to begin this much needed expansion project at Valleyview Secondary,” school board chair Kathleen Karpuk says in the release.
With funding now approved, the school district will begin designing the new addition and will be seeking feedback from the community.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Karen Edwards or call (250) 819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2019