MHPSD has identified a Crestwood School replacement as the top priority in its 2026-29 three-year capital plan. The division is seeking approval for the $77-million replacement project from Alberta Education.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
Medicine Hat Public School Division trustees have approved the division’s three-year capital plan for 2026-29, prioritizing replacement schools for Crestwood and Elm Street.
MHPSD has identified its top priority as the demolition and rebuilding of Crestwood School on its current site. No. 2 is the same for Elm Street. These projects have not yet been approved by Alberta Education.
The last time MHPSD received approval for a request from a three-year capital plan was 2014 for the construction of Dr. Ken Sauer School, which opened in 2017.
Crestwood
The top priority is to build a replacement Crestwood STEM School and expand programming from K-6 to K-9, welcoming Grade 7 to 9 students from Alexandra Middle School.
MHPSD estimates the project at more than $77 million and it would provide class space for 950 students.
“With the larger school, you have the ability with larger spaces to have that (Grade) 7 to 9 CTF (Careers Technology Foundations) spaces,” said Leanne Dulle, secretary treasurer.
According to the division the 60-year-old facility and building systems have reached or exceeded their expected service lives. Deferred maintenance required on the facility is disproportionate to resources available to the division.
The division is seeking planning funds as soon as possible and is also requesting design funding to be approved for this summer.
In the past approval for new school funding was announced annually in March. However in 2024 the government announced an $8.6-billion school construction accelerator program to help fast-track construction in the province.
If approved the division hopes to have the new school open in the spring of 2029.
The replacement is proposed to be constructed on the adjacent fields of the property which will allow the existing school to remain in full operation throughout construction.
Once the new facility is constructed the existing Crestwood School building would be demolished and replaced with playing fields.
Elm Street
Elm Street School building serves the River Flats community and offers special support to students, including a free breakfast and snack program.
The school’s location serves many families with limited transportation options, and the division says relocation of the school would have a “negative impact on the children we serve.”
Along with breakfast and lunch programs, Elm Street also serves as liaison for family support services.
“Just looking at all of that community component is really important for this project,” said Dulle. “This may not be the biggest school, but it’s really important that we keep a school in that neighbourhood. There are so many other supports that come to those students throughout their day at school.”
The division estimates the replacement would cost more than $18 million and would remain at its current site.
The school, which was constructed in 1911, has “far” exceeded its facility and building systems’ expected service life, and last received modernizations more than 40 years ago.
MHPSD says the estimated cost of a new school would be approximately $1 million cheaper than upgrading and modernizing the existing building.
In 2017 the facility underwent a comprehensive Facility Condition Assessment by Alberta Infrastructure that identified several ongoing issues, including shifting building foundations, ground and surface water infiltration in the basement and ongoing problems with electrical infrastructure.
The division is seeking approval of design funding by next spring or at the earliest opportunity. If approved, it is anticipated construction could begin in 2027 and completed by 2028.
Like with Crestwood, classes would continue throughout construction.
Once built the current aging facility would be demolished with a full site remediation.
