“This is exactly what Kamloops and Brocklehurst needed to hear” – that is what Kamloops Councillor Bill Sarai says about Monday’s announcement from the province as it announced plans to rebuild Parkcrest Elementary School.
The school was gutted by a fire in Sept. 2019, and students were moved to George Hilliard Elementary in the interim.
The B.C. Government will be contributing $34.84-million towards the project while the Kamloops-Thompson School District will be adding $300,000. The city of Kamloops will also chip in $2.5-million for the additional space required for a larger gym and change rooms.
While on NL Newsday, Sarai was asked if it has been a frustrating past year and a half waiting for the announcement from the government.
“I wouldn’t say frustrating, I would say it was an adjustment. The initial move from not having a school to placing all the children in a classroom, basically rebuilding and refurnishing and restocking the school, believe it or not, is not an easy task,” he said.
Sarai, who lives in Brocklehurst, adds it was a major group effort to move students into their temporary home.
“I give a huge shout out to School District 73 and the board for making the transition as easy as it was and also to the parents and the children that really stepped up and adjusted as quickly as they did. So, it’s not going to be overnight, they knew that,” he added.
Sarai notes he would have liked to have seen things move quicker on the rebuild but he also says he understands why it took this long given the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We didn’t think we’d be waiting this long but everybody can understand, COVID has put a wrench and a delay in everything we do around the world and this is just one more project that got pushed back, I’d say, at least a good six months, seven months to start it,” he added.
“At least now we see the announcement and we can see by next year some ground breaking and everything getting done and more of the plans coming out. The city has added some funds for some community space in there. How the Brocklehurst community wants to use that space will be open to discussion.”
“There might even be some room for a daycare in there which is in every corner of Kamloops, we’re lacking daycare space so these are all conversations that are coming which is very welcoming because they weren’t seven months ago,” Sarai added.
When complete, the new Parkcrest Elementary will have space for 510 students, 120 more than before the fire.
Shovels are expected to go into the ground summer of 2022 with construction expected to be completed in the spring of 2024.
