LAC LA BICHE - Plans continue to move forward on a new building what will eventually replace Vera M. Welsh Elementary School in Lac La Biche.
According to Nicole Garner, a spokesperson with Northern Lights Public Schools, officials with the school division have been continuing to work through the summer months on the design of a future school building.
“We have some concepts developed in relation to the layout of the school and are moving forward with working on floor plans,” Garner told Lakeland This Week.
In May of 2023, funding was made available through the Alberta government for a design plan for a new school that could replace the 51-year-old school which has been at the top of the school division’s priority list for replacement for more than a decade.
During a meeting of members of Lac La Biche County council last September, a site for the school was approved for development west of the Bold Centre on municipal property.
As noted in the school division’s 2022-2025 Capital Plan documents, there are many issues with the school building, including a small stream flowing through the basement crawlspace.
While a site and design plans are in place, division officials are still waiting for provincial approvals to move into the construction phase of the project.
Garner says the latest discussions about new construction relates to ongoing plans for parking at the proposed site, and the potential for using adjacent land for parking.
“It would provide us with more space on the school site and we would share the parking lot with the County,” she stated.
Regarding a timeline or potential price tag for a new school to replace Vera M. Welsh, Garner explained that since the project has not been approved to move to the construction phase yet, that is not available to be shared at this time. However, she added, NLPS officials continue to be optimistic that the school division will be included in the next round of provincial school infrastructure announcements with an approval to proceed to the construction phase.
