Students at Sardis Secondary can expect to benefit from significant renovations coming to the school in the near future.
Guests were treated to an exhilarating performance from the Sardis Secondary drumline before the province announced a $40 million two-storey expansion project that's set to include a new gymnasium.
“We are committed to ensuring schools can accommodate the growing number of students in Chilliwack," said Rachna Singh, Minister of Education and Child Care. "This investment in Sardis Secondary School is a crucial step towards providing communities with the services they need as the school district welcomes new students."
The 400-capacity, two-storey addition includes mass-timber construction aimed at reducing the school's carbon footprint by emitting fewer greenhouse gases. It's expected to increase the total capacity from its current 1,200 seats to a projected 1,600.
“When I first got on this board, Chilliwack had the highest number of portables per capita in the entire province,” said board chair Willow Reichelt. “Lots of schools have them and will probably never eliminate them altogether, but they don’t replace permanent classrooms.”
Reichelt, though grateful for the investments, pointed out there is still plenty of work to be done.
“We are just very thankful,” continued Reichelt. “But we are at our board meeting tonight (June 11) presenting our capital plan and I will point out that there are six other additions and three other new schools on that list.”
“So we hope to work with you in the future.”
That announcement came just hours before board trustees unanimously voted to approve the proposed major capital plan for the 2025/2026 year – a proposal that includes site acquisitions, additions and new schools with a projected cost of close to $330 million.
Much of the proposal is carry-over from last year’s proposed capital plan in which the board requested $245 million in funding for major and minor projects. The announced Sardis Secondary expansion was included in last year's renovation request, as was the Cultus Lake Community School. Both schools received the requested funding, something trustee David Swankey was quick to point out at Tuesday’s meeting.
“I just wanted to highlight the good work by staff to bring these plans forward and to get them to the ministry,” said Swankey. “For members of the public and of this table who sometimes look at this and think ‘does this translate into action?’”
“A great example to me is that half of what we asked for last year got funded.”
The provincial government has approved funding for more than 3,000 new student spaces in Chilliwack over the past six years, with investments totalling over $214 million. Schools completed from the funding include Vedder Elementary, Stitó:s Lá:lém Totí:lt Elementary/Middle, Imagine High Arts and Technology, and GW Graham Secondary. A new elementary school in east Chilliwack is still undergoing design and development.
