School District 60 asks for expansion of local middle schools in capital plan

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – School District 60 (SD 60) submitted a capital plan in June 2023 prioritizing the expansion of two in town middle schools. 

After talk emerged on social media regarding the construction of a new high school, SD 60 Superintendent Stephen Petrucci said the expansion of Bert Bowes and Dr. Kearney middle schools are priorities on the capital plan submission. 

These expansion requests on the capital plan include additional common space, classrooms, an extra gym and proper eating areas. 

Petrucci also said there is also an ongoing request for the replacement of Charlie Lake School on the list. 

The capital plan submissions are shared in June during the school district’s public board meetings, and include requests made by the district to the Ministry of Education and Childcare.

According to Petrucci these requests weren’t made because the spaces are unsafe or not appropriate.

“These are requests that we just keep in the queue, for the Ministry of Education in terms of what we foresee as needs that will continue to grow in the future,” said Petrucci. 

He said the city has seen a lot of investment and expansion in the last years in other areas, which make these requests unrealistic for the time being. 

“The ministry decides each year what they’re going to prioritize and so a district would typically wait several years before you know a needed project comes to fruition,” said Petrucci.

The superintendent added the district is not at a point where they would qualify for any new buildings or additions.

 “In the last seven years, we’ve had two new elementary schools, we have the upper halfway gym nearing completion, and there was just the announcement of a replacement school for one of them,” said Petrucci. 

Petrucci concluded by saying although the construction of a new high school is not on the school district’s agenda, existing schools in the city will see growth and investment in the coming years. 

More information on School District 60’s capital plan can be found here.