With the turn of a shovel—or rather several shovels—the start of construction of a new school in the Palliser School Division was celebrated today.
Coaldale MLA Grant Hunter on behalf of the Government of Alberta joined dignitaries and representatives from the Town of Coaldale and the Palliser School Division to celebrate the start of construction on the brand-new joint school and recreational center in Coaldale. The Alberta Governments 2021 budget included $1.6 billion for 14 capital projects including this facility in Coaldale.
The new school which will be located on the Northwest side of Coaldale will be able to accommodate 855 students in grades 7-12 and will serve as a replacement from Kate Andrews High School, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.
“This sod turning is a symbol of shared commitment and shared responsibility,” Dave Driscoll, Superintendent, Palliser School Division, says. “The partnership between the Government of Alberta, our school division, the Town of Coaldale and the community has allowed boundaries to be expanded in envisioning what the new facility will look like, and has made it possible to build a school that truly reflects the community’s values and needs.”
Students of the school will have direct access to the recreation center, which will be built jointly with the high school.
“As a Council, we are thrilled to be breaking ground on this once-in-a-generation project,” says Coaldale Mayor Kim Craig. Together with our project partners, Palliser School Division and the Government of Alberta, we are embarking on a flagship project that reflect the benefits of partnerships across the board – be that the building’s combined infrastructure, learning opportunities for students, or public/private arrangements local businesses who will operate programs within the Multi-Use Recreation Center.”
A major feature of the new high school will be to expand their dual credit program with other post-secondary and trades school such as the current KA Fire Academy.
Educational programming involving the area’s wetlands situated near the school’s new site, will be an integral part of student learning.