Construction on three new schools set to open in 2016 in Airdrie and Cochrane will continue as planned despite a major delay on school construction projects in Alberta.
More than 100 school projects across Alberta are behind schedule, according to Education Minister David Eggen. RancheView School in Cochrane, as well as Cooper’s Crossing and H. Lorimer Schools in Airdrie, are notable exemptions on the list.
According to Rocky View Schools (RVS) Manager of School Facilities Peter Garner, the division was confident their projects would remain on schedule.
“It’s because the planning department had good previous experience with building schools. We had good consultants to work with,” he said.
Eggen said a request has been made to Auditor General Merwan Saher to investigate the “substantial lag in funding related to the previous government’s announcements to build new schools and modernize existing schools.”
“As the new minister responsible, and as a parents, I’m extremely disappointed to learn that many of the schools our province desperately needs will not open on time,” he said during a press conference held Oct. 6. “Alberta families have been waiting for these schools for a long time and they deserve a reason for the delays and assurance that this won’t happen again.”
As part of RVS’ 2016 to 2019 capital plan, the division requested 11 new facilities and four major building additions to meet continuing student growth.
“(New projects) are on track. We’re in the design stage with our consultants,” Garner said. “They anticipate the schedule will come out as promised.”
The new schools in Airdrie and Cochrane are set to open in September 2016.
