(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
February 23, 2023 - 11:24 AM
Kamloops is getting a long-awaited new elementary school.
The province has committed $65.3 million for a new 485-seat school in the Pineview Valley area, according to a Ministry of Education news release issued Wednesday, Feb. 22.
“Our government understands the importance of supporting families, and we know that Kamloops is a fast-growing city," Education Minister Rachna Singh said in the release. “I’m proud that we are providing funding for a new elementary school with a neighbourhood learning centre that will benefit students and families in the Pineview Valley area for years to come.”
The long-awaited announcement comes after years of planning for a new Pineview Valley elementary school, going back to at least 2014.
“Our board of education is extremely pleased to receive this much-needed new school announcement, and we look forward to continuing to work with the ministry on our other capital priorities,” School District 73 board chair Heather Grieve said.
Construction is set to start next spring and it will open by summer 2026. The new school will include students from kindergarten to grade 7, but also house a community learning centre and child care services.
It's construction will include mass timber "where appropriate" in the "climate-resilient" building design. It's aimed to include insulation standards that reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 50%, compared to current standards, according to the news release.
Although the money is allocated to the new construction, it doesn't appear the building design is completed yet.
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