By Dylana Milobar

On to the next capital funding ask for School District 73

Apr 13, 2019 | 8:55 AM

KAMLOOPS — Now that Valleyview Secondary has been checked off School District 73’s capital funding wish list, attention will turn to the other crowded schools within the Kamloops Thompson area.

Potential upgrade or expansion projects needed within the District include new facilities for Pineview, Sun Peaks, along with expansions for Westmount Elementary, South Kamloops Secondary School, and Sahali Secondary.

After announcing a $34.5 million investment towards an expansion of Valleyview Secondary yesterday (April 12), Education Minister Rob Fleming says that project is just one part of the provincial government’s plan to renew school infrastructure around B.C.

He says the Valleyview improvement project will not be the only capital funding announcement for Kamloops schools, and for now, there is another area of town that will have crowding pressure eased.

“The other one I’m really excited about is Westsyde Elementary reopening, which will help alleviate portable pressure for younger kids in the school system.”

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Now that the number one ask has been answered, Fleming says the Ministry will soon hear revised capital funding priorities from S.D 73.

“We’ll look at the new submission that Kamloops-Thompson District sends us.” He explains, “That’s due June 30th so it’s a little early to see what their evolving priorities are.”

Superintendent Alison Sidow says the District is still determining where the other stuffed-to-the-rafters schools will sit on their priority list.

“Well, the Board of Education makes that decision, and they do that on an annual basis,” She says, “We will be hearing from the City in May at our board meeting, and following that the board will make decisions about which capital project is next on the priority list.”

Notably, Sidow says there is a lot of pressure for schools throughout the South Shore.

“What people don’t know is that we’re actually out of secondary space on the South Shore,” She explains, “So we may have to look at additions even at Sahali Secondary School, for instance.”

For now, Sidow says Kamloops schools aren’t out of the woods yet, but the District is on its way.