The Sooke School District is hoping a Langford land purchase will ease some of the pressure on SD62 schools.
School district officials joined with representatives of the province to announce the purchase of a 7.2-acre parcel, earmarked for the development of a middle school.
The site B次元官网网址� currently a gravel lot B次元官网网址� is located at 2460 Gateway Rd., just around the corner from Costco in the North Langford area. The province provided $21 million of the $25 million needed to purchase the plot, with SD62 supplied the remaining $4 million.
This news follows the province's announcement in May that planning had been approved for a new secondary school, which will sit directly across from the newly purchased site. SD62 will have to apply to the province for funding needed to build the middle school.
B次元官网网址淥nce we are approved for the funding of a middle school, itB次元官网网址檚 generally about three to five years from the time that funding is approved to the time that weB次元官网网址檙e able to open doors to one of those schools,B次元官网网址� said SD62 board chair Amanda Dowhy.
If approved, Dowhy hopes the project will help address the need for schools in Langford.
Between 2016 and 2021, LangfordB次元官网网址檚 population grew by 31.8 per cent, compared to neighbouring areas, like Colwood and Highlands, which only grew by 12.5 and 11.6 per cent, respectively. SD62 expects this growth will result in 300 to 500 new students annually.
B次元官网网址淏y 2030, weB次元官网网址檙e expecting deficit [school] seats by about 2,700,B次元官网网址� said Dowhy, who added that SD62 will have to continue to find ways to accommodate new students. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think there's ever an end to our needs until weB次元官网网址檙e done seeing the building growth that happens within the West Shore."
Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson said as one of the province's fastest-growing communities, there is a need for infrastructure, including schools, in the community.
"Projects like this new middle school will provide easy access to education, giving parents peace of mind knowing their children can safely commute to and from school by walking or biking through pedestrian and bike-friendly routes," he said.
