An annoncement from BC Liberal candidates Peter Milobar and Todd Stone promises an $85 million investment in capital funding for School District 73.
Speaking at the site of the previous Parkcrest Elementary School in Kamloops’ Brocklehurst community, candidate for B.C.’s Kamloops-South Thompson riding, Todd Stone, said the population into the Kamloops region continues to grow, causing pressure on the school district.
“We are investing in creating spaces for students to grow and become more successful,” he said. “It is our priority to get shovels in the ground as quickly as possible.”
A notable infrastructure project mentioned was Parkcrest Elementary which burned down September, 2019, just a few days into the school year. The fire and subsequent demolition of the school meant a new home had to be found for the school’s 360 students.
They were relocated to the former George Hilliard elementary. The shift caused others to find new homes as well, including Kamloops-Thompson school district’s Twin Rivers and Four Directions alternative education programs, the Big Little Science Centre, a day care and pre-school.
According to the release, the NDP have not yet funded a rebuild of Parkcrest Elementary, more than a year after the event. In addition, the candidates said the rebuild should move forward as an insurance claim, not a capital project.
“The first anniversary of the Parkcrest Elementary School fire passed back in September and is just another example of the many stresses facing SD73 and the young families in our region who rely on the public school system,” said Peter Milobar, candidate for Kamloops-North Thompson.
The candidates said the investment will ensure funding for the top three capital priorities of SD73, which include a new school for Pineview Valley and Batchelor Heights in Kamloops, as well as a third, unknown project, which will be determined “as is appropriate by the school district in the coming months,” said Stone.
“We will work with the school district to ensure the $85 million in capital funding announced today is invested where the district sees the greatest need,” said Milobar.