A $33.3 million replacement school for Minnekhada middle in Port Coquitlam was announced Wednesday.
The new school will be built for 600 students and will include a full-sized basketball court and a performing arts stage that will connect to a multi-purpose room. With architect's drawings already in place, School District 43 is ready to seek a building permit, a small crowd of politicians, students and teachers was told, with construction to start this September.
Education Minister Mike Bernier credited the school district for bringing priority projects to the province's attention and said SD43 has already completed 18 seismic mitigation projects, with three under construction and 10 remaining to be addressed.
"This [school] was their number one priority," Bernier said.
However, he wasn't able to confirm when funding would be announced for replacing Irvine elementary, which is also on the seismic priority list.
Parents have been lobbying for funding to replace the older school and Coquitlam-Burke Mountain MLA Jodie Wickens said she was hoping to hear details about replacing the PoCo school at Wednesday's announcement.
"These announcements come out before an election all the time. Parents up there are saying where is our school going to be."
Meanwhile, a group of students and teachers expressed enthusiasm for the new school that will feature natural light and collaborative learning spaces and should be built by the winter of 2019.
Music teacher David Erikson said he's been waiting a long time for the rebuild and is looking forward to seeing the new performance stage and having room for music programs, such as the popular DJ program and Must Rock.
Owen Hancock, a Grade 6 student, said he's looking forward to the new school even though he will be at high school by the time it is built. A basketball fan, Hancock is especially pleased to learn there will be a full-sized basketball court, and the school "will be earthquake safe," he said.
He expects his younger sister will be able to attend the new school once it is open.
