Province fast-tracking construction of new Lac La Biche elementary school beside Bold Center

The Government of Alberta said last week that several new schools are being accelerated to get built, including the replacement of Vera M. Welsh Elementary School.

After previously receiving design funding from the province, Northern Lights Public Schools released the concepts and plans in January.

Vera M. Welsh is over 50 years old and has long been an NLPS priority for replacement.

The new building’s design features 11 classrooms with lots of centralized spaces to promote collaboration and community.

This includes:

• A learning commons that opens into a gathering area;
• A stage that folds into the gymnasium wall;
• Viewing windows for parents to observe gym activities;
• A dedicated music room; and
• A servery to support the school’s lunch program.

The provincial government uses a staged school project funding approach that includes pre-planning, planning, design and construction approvals.

Although a dollar figure hasn’t yet been attached to the project, this follows the Alberta government’s intention to fund 90 new schools, a splash of $8.6 billion.