Jubilant scenes erupted in Neerlandia yesterday following news the hamlet is to get a new school.
Construction is expected to begin early in 2014 and take three years to complete.
The announcement was made by Education Minister Jeff Johnson and Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA Maureen Kubinec.
It marks the triumphant end of efforts by the community to replace the 72-year-old Neerlandia Public Christian School, which is showing signs of wear and tear.
“I am absolutely ecstatic,” said Pembina Hills school division Supt. Colleen SymyrozumWatt. “It is fantastic news.
“It has been on the capital plan since 2005, that’s how long we have been waiting for a new school.
“For the Minister and Maureen Kubincc to come here in person to make the announcement is great.”
“It’s exciting and has been long-awaited,” declared NPCS principal Lisa Gehring. “I am thrilled.
“This is actually my second new school since I was at Clyde back when it had issues.”
Johnson and Kubinec made the announcement after a tour of NPCS yesterday morning.
Also present were Symyrozum-Watt, Barrhead County Councillor Dennis Nanninga, PHRD board chair Sharon Volorney, vice-chair Kim Webster and several other trustees, including Dale Schaffrick, Dave Truckey and Annette Bokenfohr.
They were shown some of the structural problems, including classrooms affected by flooding and leaks. In one room a ceiling panel is missing.
The school’s design has also been criticized, with the large number of stairs posing a challenge to students with mobility problems. Shortly before 10 a.m, students were asked to assemble in the gym.
Johnson, MLA for Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater, said he had been immensely impressed with the school, despite its structural flaws.
He went on to praise Alberta’s premier Alison Redford, saying she had been Minister of Justice and had worked all over the world for the United Nations.
Johnson said Redford had wanted to invest in children, families and education, believing that schools were the hub of any community.
As a result, she had promised during the election to renovate and replace school buildings, he added.
At this point Johnson handed the microphone to Kubinec for “a very special announcement.”
“We are here today to tell you that you are getting a new school,” Kubinec said, prompting an outburst of applause and cheers. Some staff members even embraced.
“Isn’t that just the best news!” she said above the ovation. “I am so excited and thankful that Johnson and my colleagues have decided that rural education is incredibly important.
“We will be working hard on designing and planning and doing all those good things. It isn’t going to happen tomorrow, but it’s going to happen real soon.”
Afterwards, in an interview with the Leader, Johnson said he was unable to talk about costs.
“We don’t like to talk about the costs because we like to tender these things out, and see if we can get the cheapest costs we can,” he said.
Johnson, who is touring parts of the province, said planning on the new school would start right away.
“I expect it will take three years before the door is open,” he said. “I think we will be breaking ground during the next school year – I am guessing in 2014 with the school opening in 2016.”
Johnson believed the community and school board would have to decide the site of the new school.
He imagined it would be nearby – and obviously not on the site of the present school.
“That would be impossible. Where would the children go?” he said.
Truckey said he was “ecstatic” at the prospect of a new school.
“It’s the number one capital plan item for Pembina Hills,” said Truckey. “The original building goes back to 1941 and it is full, 100 per cent utilization rate. This is amazing news.”
Sonja De Waal, who is on the parents school council and is chairperson of Neerlandia Christian Education Society, was delighted – and surprised – by the news.
“We are very, very happy,” she said. “I thought they were just coming to assess the school, which is very old. We do need a replacement.”
