Central Okanagan

Photo: Contributed

School District 23 will be getting a boost from the provincial government.

More than $28.5 million is being invested for the new Mar Jok Elementary in West Kelowna and the expansion of Okanagan Mission Secondary in Kelowna.

The Mar Jok Elementary will have space for 460 students from kindergarten to Grade six and will help address the enrolment growth in the district.  The new school is part of a joint development with the City of West Kelowna and will include a community park and play field.

Kelowna- Mission MLA Steve Thomson says the Central Okanagan is the fifth-largest school district in the province.

"These projects are an essential support to the students and parents in this rapidly expanding area."

Okanagan Mission Secondary is also located in an area with a growing school-aged population. The addition will provide 300 new student spaces and a Neighbourhood Learning Centre with an upgraded drama room and related facilities for community use.

Central Okanagan board of education chair Rolli Cacchioni says the projects will support the growing district and will open up much-needed space at Okanagan Mission Secondary.

"The new elementary school will ease enrolment pressures at the nearby Hudson Road, Shannon Lake and Rose Valley elementary schools."

SD23 will be consulting with community partners in the coming months to determine the specific educational and community services that will be offered at both schools as part of their new Neighbourhood Learning Centres.

Construction will begin in the spring of 2013 and both projects are expected to be complete by fall 2014. The projects are part of the $353 million capital plan announced by Premier Christy Clark in October 2011.