The Kamloops-Thompson School District says Parkcrest Elementary School will officially reopen on Sept. 3, 2024, almost five years to the date when the school burned down.

Parkcrest students have been at nearby George Hilliard Elementary in Brocklehurst since the fire on Sept. 5, 2019.

Construction on a rebuilt 510-seat K to 7 Parkcrest Elementary began in the spring of 2022, with an estimated opening date in the spring of this year.

“Due to on-going material supply and labour challenges, Dawson Wallace Construction has provided Director McDonald an updated schedule that has moved the completion date to March 28, 2024,” a report from SD73 Secretary/Treasurer Trina Cassidy said.

“Once the contract is complete, School District staff will need approximately two weeks to verify all systems are operating correctly.”

Cassidy says while students and staff could have been moved over into the rebuilt school in mid-to-late April, the school district recommends they remain at George Hilliard for the rest of the 2023-24 school year, which is set to end in June.

The B.C. government contributed $34.84-million towards the rebuilt Parkcrest Elementary, with SD73 adding $300,000. The City of Kamloops also committed up to $2.5 million for the additional space required for a larger gymnasium which will be used for community events.

George Hilliard Elementary will remain open as a new K to 7 school this fall, as part of a significant realignment in North Kamloops, that will also see AE Perry, Arthur Hatton, Bert Edwards, Kay Bingham, and Rayleigh elementaries turned into K to 7 schools.

Brock Middle School will also be turned back into a new high school, while NorKam Secondary will add Grade 8 and 9 students as SD73 does away with the middle school concept.

Grade 10, 11, and 12 students from Sun Peaks will continue to attend NorKam, while younger students will attend the K to 9 Sun Peaks School. Sun Peaks students in Grade 8 and 9 who want to attend Brocklehurst or NorKam will have to adhere to the SD73 transfer request process.

You can view the new catchment map that will take effect in the Fall of 2024 here.