Construction on three new Rocky View Schools buildings officially started Nov. 16.
School board Trustee Chair Bruce Pettigrew was joined by Airdrie Mayor Peter Brown, local MLA Rob Anderson and Justice Minister Jonathan Denis last week as the four made their way between Chestermere and Airdrie to announce the construction starts.
Others were present including school board trustees, members of Airdrie Chamber of Commerce and parents to watch the celebrations.
“It’s a great honour to break ground for a new school,” said Pettigrew outside the construction site for the middle school now under construction in Sagewood.
The school, located off First Avenue on Sagewood Boulevard, will hold 900 Grade 5 to 8 students in an expected 6,400-square-metre space. An additional 16 modular classes will be needed as well.
“This will relieve a lot of pressure,” said Pettigrew of the growing number of students in Airdrie. “This is probably the fastest growing city in Canada,” he added.
Denis said with Airdrie’s population hovering around 47,000, the two new schools are necessary.
“Growth in the city is a positive thing for the province. But we also have a responsibility to keep up with the infrastructure.” he said.
Denis said the Province has committed to building 50 new schools in the next four years through a public/private (P3) partnership.
MLA Rob Anderson commended the community for “fighting” for the two new schools.
“I don’t think I’ve received more mail on anything else over the last four years. The community came together and said this is the number one thing we need and they did it together,” he said.
Anderson added he wants to ensure Rocky View Schools is getting “their fair share” of the 50 promised new schools, pointing out the division is the fifth largest in Alberta.
“It’s a huge school district and the fastest growing for sure. We need to do what’s right for our students,” he said.
Mayor Peter Brown also commended the community for vocalizing the need for new schools in Airdrie.
“I don’t believe this would have happened without all of their support,” he said. “I look forward to opening more schools in the coming months.”
While at the Chinooks Winds location for the grades 9 to 12 high school, he said the location is great for students. He added there will soon be volleyball courts for students to use and a nearby toboggan hill is expected to be constructed some time next year.
“This is a phenomenal area,” he added.
The 10,547-square-metre high school will fit 1,000 students with space for eight future modular classrooms. It is located across from the Rocky View Schools’ Education Centre on Chinook Winds Drive. It follows the relocation of Airdrie Francophone School to the community of Reunion.
Jon Denis, Grade 11 George MacDougall High School student said he thinks the new high school is long overdue.
“The high schools are really crowded and the classes are getting bigger.”
He will be finished high school by the time the new building is finished but said he is looking forward to it.
“I think this will be a great thing for Airdrie,” he said.
Chestermere’s 64,000-square-foot K-9 school will have capacity for 500 students. will be built for 500 kindergarten to Grade 9 students, taking up 5.946 square metres. The site has space to expand the school to fit 900 students as well as additional room for 16 future modular classrooms. The school will be built on the east side of Chestermere Lake in the community of Kinninburgh.
As P3 projects, the Province is managing the design, construction and 30 years of maintenance of the schools. The completion is expected for September 2013.
