Mar. 30, 2022
At the March 29, 2022 public board meeting, the Calgary Board of Education Board of Trustees approved the
Three-Year School Capital Plan 2023-26 requesting new construction and major modernization projects from the provincial government. This includes two new schools and 10 modernizations.
Building new schools within growing communities is desirable as it allows students to attend school closer to home. Existing CBE schools currently have and are projected to continue to have adequate space for all students, at schools that will continue to ensure that they feel safe, welcomed and enjoy a quality learning environment.
Over the past few years there has been a shift in the capital planning priorities to fewer new school requests and an emphasis on modernizations requests. With an aging portfolio of schools, older schools are increasingly in need of major modernizations to provide an appropriate learning environment for students. These projects involve the renovation of whole or part of a school building to enhance both current and future educational programs. This can include upgrades to Career and Technology Studies/Foundation spaces, enhancement to Learning Common areas and overall improvements to the building.
Earlier this month, the
Government of Alberta announced funding for the design and construction of a new middle school (Grades 5-9) in the community of Evanston.
The CBE also has five new school construction projects under development that will open to students in the next few years:
- Mahogany Elementary School (K-4) – scheduled to open this fall
- Skyview Ranch elementary/middle school (K-9) – scheduled to open this fall
- Auburn Bay middle school (5-9) – scheduled to open this fall
- North Calgary high school (10-12) – scheduled to open fall 2024
- A second Auburn Bay elementary school (K-4) – scheduled to open this fall
The 2023-26 plan identifies a single prioritized capital list consisting of both new school construction and major modernization requests, as required by Alberta Education. The estimated cost of all of the projects is more than $230 million.
The Calgary Board of Education does not decide when new schools are built. The provincial government determines where, when and how new schools are built. Each year, school boards submit a Three-Year School Capital Plan to Alberta Education. The plan identifies priorities for new school construction and major modernizations.
Alberta Education requires the plan to be submitted by April 1, 2022.
