New school for southside in budget

The Alberta government’s 2018 Capital Plan will invest $393 million for 20 new schools across the province, one of which will be a new elementary school in south Lethbridge.

On Friday, the government announced funding for the new elementary school planned for the Southbrook area.

“This is the first school that will have been built in over 55 years in south Lethbridge,” said Christine Lee, Associate Superintendent of Business Affairs for Lethbridge School Division 51. “We’re pretty excited.”

“This new elementary school is long overdue and I am very happy that finally families in this area of our city will have an elementary school in their own neighbourhood,” said Lethbridge East MLA Maria Fitzpatrick in a news release.

“It’s important our kids have great space to learn and grow and this new school will create a safe, caring environment for our kids to learn, and for future generations.”

In 2017, the district approved for design only of a 600-student elementary school in the southeast of Lethbridge in the Southbrook subdivision.

Construction is expected to begin this summer with plans for the school to be ready for fall 2020. Estimated cost of the school has been pegged at about $14.3 million.

The site is located south of 24 Avenue South, between Fairmont Gate and 46 Street. It is designed as a 400-student core with full build-out to 600 students with modular classrooms. It is a mirror image of the new Coalbanks Elementary School in west Lethbridge.

But one unique feature will be the addition of photovoltaic solar panelling in order to save money on energy costs.

“Students will get a great opportunity to learn about environmental stewardship, as well as alternative energy sources,” said Lee.

Lee said the school is needed in

south Lethbridge to deal with growing enrolment numbers in that part of the city.

“We have a growing student population, and we’ve had to add modular school facilities at Agnes Davidson and Lakeview Elementary for a number of years,” she said.

The City of Lethbridge kicked in $850,000 to support the expansion of the gymnasium to support community use.

School District 51 has had a long-standing joint-use facilities agreement with the City since 1959.

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