The province has announced $15 million in funding to purchase land in the university area for a future elementary or middle school to meet the growing demand of the Central Okanagan.
On Thursday, BC’s Ministry of Education and Child Care also said the construction start on a new secondary school would be starting in the coming months.
The ministry said the funding boost to the Central Okanagan School District was also contributing to a two-storey addition at a West Kelowna elementary school.
“These projects support our commitment to meet the needs of BC’s growing communities and provide all students throughout BC with a quality education,” said Rachna Singh, minister of education and child care, in a news release.
More than $162 million is supporting the projects.
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According to the news release, that includes the new George Pringle Secondary School, which will see construction start this fall. A builder was chosen in early March.
As much as $121 million is being provided by the province and another $3 million from the school district, the release says.
Almost $23 million is going toward the two-storey extension at Hudson Road Elementary school, which will add over 260 seats to the school.
According to the release, the project will feature nine classrooms, two kindergarten rooms, a multipurpose space and improved dropoff/pick up spaces.
“We appreciate the government’s continued investment in our fast-growing community,” said Lee-Ann Tiede, board chair, Central Okanagan School District.
“We look forward to continuing our work together to remedy our ongoing need for new spaces.”
These three major projects are in addition to the five prefabricated classrooms funded for North Glenmore Elementary school, which will add 120 new seats.
Another school project in the Central Okanagan includes a 12-classroom addition with 300 more seats at École Dr Knox Middle school, which was announced in September 2022.
