The Kamloops-Thompson School district has taken another step towards building a new high school in Aberdeen.

Board Chair Heather Grieve says the district has gotten word that the province will be putting forward about $7.5 million to buy land at 2390 Pacific Way for the new school, which is the top capital priority for SD73.

“That’s approximately how much it costs. I know that the price did go up when we missed the opportunity to purchase before December 31, 2023,” Grieve said. “And again, with the work of staff we were able to ensure that that site was not sold for another cause.”

“Operation staff has been in lots of conversations with the land owner and so we got the official notification from the minister, education and childcare that they were going to support that funding so they are going to pay for the we will be getting the capital dollars to be able to pay for the site.”

Grieve notes that a high school in Aberdeen will ease enrolment pressures at Sa-Hali secondary and South Kamloops secondary, which are both currently over capacity despite recent catchment changes.

“It is number one on our capital priority [list]. And the reason why the school being so urgent for us is that Sa-Hali Secondary School is currently like at 131 per cent capacity utilization, and it’s projected to grow 278 per cent by 2033,” Grieve said.

“If we don’t look at making significant changes, so elementary schools in that area as well would be graduating students to go to Aberdeen secondary and they are currently at 141 per cent.”

Grieve says once the site is officially secured, SD73 will begin work on a business case for the Aberdeen Secondary School. It is not clear when that will happen or how long it will take for the business case to be completed.

The 2021-2022 Capital Plan had a funding request of just under $75-million for the new Aberdeen Secondary School. While estimates were not included in subsequent capital plans, NL News was told that the new school is estimated to cost around $100-million as of Jan. 2023 figures.