Additional funding earmarked for pre-planning stage of new schools

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on April 5, 2025.

As the province ramps up construction of new schools across the province to address rising student enrolment, more money has been announced to help divisions during the pre-planning phase of construction.

On Friday the government said it will spend an additional $1.1 million to help school boards develop plans for new facilities. Last fall, the government introduced its $8.6-billion School Construction Accelerator Program that aims to build or modernize more than 100 schools over the next seven years.

“We continue to be committed to building and renovating schools now so we can keep up with increasing numbers of students and growing pressures on our education system,” said Demetrios Nicolaides, minister of education. “We already have more than 130 school projects underway and we are keeping our foot on the gas pedal.”

The pre-planning stage of new school construction includes design, location and classroom layout, as well as identifying how the school best serves the community.

School districts are able to use the information gathered during the pre-planning phase to submit a well-rounded project proposal “better prepared” for consideration for funding, the province says.

Typically a pre-planning phase approval provides $50,000 in funding, however that can vary depending on required pre-planning activities. The province says new funding will help school boards engage with the local community to fund the best school plan for local students.

“This pre-planning money is helping school boards create strong project ideas for potential schools in their communities,” said Nicolaides.

“Thorough pre-planning helps determine whether a new school, modernization or replacement is required,” said Martin Long, minister of infrastructure. “Additionally, we determine grade configuration, capacity needs and site conditions.”

The province says many projects already receive money for the pre-planning phase, but not all, and says the new funding should help fill that void.

The announcement comes as Alberta Education is accepting three-year capital plan requests from all school districts for approval.