Above: Dirt is on the move at the future home of a 5-9 middle school for Sturgeon School Division. Land development for both new schools is underway and the schools are in the design phase.
by Tristan Turner
with files from Lucie Roy
Two new announced schools are underway in Morinville with Sturgeon School Division and Greater St. Albert’s respective schools at the design phase and land work underway at both locations.
Council unanimously passed Second Reading Aug. 29 on a bylaw that would close a small undeveloped roadway on the east edge of town along Grandin Drive, home of the Sturgeon School Division site.
The vote came after an empty public hearing, with Council not receiving any correspondence from interested parties opposing the closure.
According to Greg Hofmann, Morinville’s Director of Planning and Development, the road closure will be necessary for a future school that will be placed on the site. Hofmann noted that calling the strip a ‘road’ is perhaps not accurate as it is a small expansion onto the side of the road (less than 50 meters long) intended for future road widening.
Council had no comments or questions for clarification that evening. The road closure will come back for Third reading on Sep. 12, the last regular meeting of this council’s term.
Alberta Infrastructure has confirmed to Morinville News that both schools are in the design phases.
Greater St. Albert’s new K-6 school – St. Kateri Tekakwitha Academy – is a 400 capacity school and scheduled for a 2019 opening according to the Division’s website.
The new Morinville 5-9, 600 capacity public school, approved for Sturgeon School Division is also in the design phase. According to the Division’s website, the school is scheduled for a 2018 opening.
Development of the lands the two schools will be built on is currently underway.
Information on Sturgeon School Division’s school can be found at http://www.sturgeon.ab.ca/New%20Morinville%20School.php, and info on GSACRD’s can be found at https://www.gsacrd.ab.ca/administration/new-school-capital-projects-modernizations/st-kateri-tekakwitha-academy-opening-2018.
