The provincial government announced last week that Rocky View Schools (RVS) would receive two new schools in the district, with doors opening for the 2017-18 school year.
With one new school slated for construction in Airdrie’s Windsong neighbourhood, Cochrane families will see the build of a new K-8 school in the community of Fireside. This is part of what Premier Jim Prentice said is the ‘most expansive infrastructure commitment in Alberta’s history’; over the next 10 years, the government will complete 230 school projects (either through the build of new schools or the modernization of existing schools).
“The new Cochrane K-Grade 8 school will be for 800 students, with a build out (to accommodate) 900,” explained Colleen Munro, RVS chair of the board of trustees for Ward 5.
Mitford Middle School (including the Cochrane Christian Academy) currently has a population swelling toward 1,000 students, making it the largest school in Cochrane, with nearly as many students in portable classrooms as there are inside the school’s core.
“The Fireside school was our first priority (according to the RVS 2015-2018 Three Year Capital Plan),” said Munro. “The board has recognized the growth in Cochrane.”
Munro said there would be 1,600 spaces opening up for elementary and middle school students between the two new schools (Sunset Ridge, also a K-8, is slated to open in 2016 and will also accommodate 800 students), which should help alleviate the pressure on Cochrane’s existing schools.
Suzanne Gaida, senior manager of community services with the town, said the school would be built “in the centre of the neighbourhood plan in Phase 2 of Fireside” and that the town would work with the developer and Alberta Ministry of Infrastructure to help get the project ‘shovel ready’.
The total ticket of the 10-year provincial plan is $2 billion, including over $43 million for school boards and planning.
Munro was unable to provide any further timeline details as per the construction process, but did say that Alberta Education would inform RVS moving forward.
While a new high school for Cochrane is not part of the local board’s Three Year Capital Plan, Munro said it is on their radar; learn more at rockyview.ab.ca.
