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Vedder River school site purchase finalized by Chilliwack school district

New school would help alleviate over capacity problems in Sardis-area schools
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It’s a done deal.

The Chilliwack School Board has finalized their purchase of the new south side school site. While the government has yet to approve the capital funding for a new school in Chilliwack, they have been encouraging the district to seek a location.

They even provided $2.15 million in funding support for the land acquisition.

The lot is a 12.4 acre parcel at the end of Tyson Road, just north of the Vedder River. The district says the site is “an ideal location for a new school, with plenty of room for a large building, playing fields and parking.”

It’s also close to some of Chilliwack’s fastest growing neighbourhoods, where schools are already well above capacity.

The Chilliwack School District has prioritized the construction of a large new elementary/middle school on the south side of Chilliwack to help alleviate the significant capacity issues in all of the schools in the district, placing the project in their five-year capital plan. That plan is forwarded to the provincial government for review annually.

The district has been asked to submit a business case for the new school to the Ministry of Education this fall and they say they are hopeful it will receive approval for the project.

While a new school is needed, with local over-capacity causing alarm among educators for the past few years, it’s not the only project the district is working on. They are also pushing for additions to G.W. Graham middle-secondary and Chilliwack secondary schools.

They’ve invited Rob Fleming, Minister of Education, to tour the Chilliwack School District, and to discuss the district’s capacity needs and financial support from the province for new instructional spaces.

“This is great news for our board and our partners in education,” said Paul McManus, board chair. “Acquiring the Tyson Road property brings us one step closer to a new school on the south side. We are making significant investments that are critical to the future of our school district.”


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jpeters@theprogress.com

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Jessica Peters

About the Author: Jessica Peters

I began my career in 1999, covering communities across the Fraser Valley ever since.
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