Kootenay Lake’s School District 8 wants to expand Salmo Secondary School to accommodate Salmo Elementary School students, but it’s doubtful it will receive provincial funding and approval this year.
Salmo Elementary School is the only elementary school serving the entire village and surrounding area.
Since 2018, the school board has submitted a request to the Ministry of Education and Child Care for nearly $19 million to add an addition to Salmo Secondary School that could accommodate eight additional classrooms for elementary school-aged students.
During September’s school board meeting, board members voted in favour of submitting the request again, although Superintendent Trish Smillie doesn’t think this year’s submission will be any more successful than in the past.
Smillie stated that the lower mainland has likely been prioritized for major capital investments this year, as it has seen unprecedented enrolment growth, with some seismic upgrades also required.
“I think right now, just as far as priorities go, some of those lower mainland schools are hitting a little bit higher priority compared to our Salmo community, where we do have an older building, but we have ample space and child care in the school, and we’re maintaining it well.”
There are currently 140 students enrolled in Salmo Elementary, with 162 at Salmo Secondary.
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