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May 24, 2019 - 3:33 PM
VERNON - BX Elementary school in Vernon will be getting an $11.5 million upgrade to create classrooms to accommodate 240 students.
The provincial government have committed $11.1 million to the expansion project, according to a Ministry of Education media release issued today, May 24. The Vernon School District will contribute $425,000. Construction of the new classrooms is expected to begin in spring 2020.
"This is great news for School District 22," Vernon school board chair Robert Lee said in the release. "We appreciate the support from the ministry in funding this project. The new expansion at BX Elementary will provide our students and staff with a great place to learn, grow and work."
According to the ministry, the school was originally built in 1961 and had its last addition completed in 1980. The school currently has room for about 300 students and is currently operating at almost 150 per cent capacity. The school currently uses five portable classrooms and it was predicted that number would jump to 12 in the next 10 years without the planned addition.
When the new classrooms are built the school is expected to operate at 85 per cent capacity and will no longer need the portable classrooms.
"On behalf of the BX Elementary families, we are very happy to hear today’s announcement," BX Parent Advisory Council president Amanda Connor said in the release. "We have a tight-knit school community that is inclusive of all students, teachers and staff, and it will be great for all of our students to be under one roof, passing each other in the halls."
The project is the first school expansion to take place at the Vernon School District since the 2003-04 school year.
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