Pineview Elementary School Business Case to Proceed

The Kamloops-Thompson school district has received support from the Ministry of Education to proceed with a business case for a new school in Pineview Valley.

The District’s Capital Plan, submitted to the ministry in June 2020, listed an elementary school in Pineview Valley as its top capital priority.

“This is not a funding announcement,” Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw confirmed. “But it is excellent news that we now have the Ministry’s support and can proceed with the important first step of a business case.”

There is no school in the Pineview Valley area and Pineview Valley students are bused to McGowan Park Elementary, which is facing significant enrolment pressure. McGowan Park Elementary is currently operating at 160% capacity and is anticipated to be at 182% by 2025-2026 and 192% by 2030-2031. According to the City of Kamloops Official Community Plan (OCP), the southwest sector is the highest growth area within Kamloops over the near and long-term future. An elementary school in the Pineview Valley will mean five schools will serve this area of Kamloops.

Once the business case is complete and the Ministry provides funding, Director of Facilities Art McDonald estimates design and construction will take approximately three years.

“This is certainly a positive step in reducing some of the enrolment pressure we are facing in the city,” said Terry Sullivan, Superintendent. “However, it does not solve the enrolment pressures we are trying to address with the proposed catchment changes to Aberdeen Elementary/Pacific Way, SKSS/Sa-Hali, Dallas Elementary/R.L. Clemitson, or Juniper Ridge/Marion Schilling. Those consultation processes will proceed.”