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Demolition starts at Evergreen Elementary School

Aug 29, 2018 | 11:04 AM

After standing in Drayton Valley for over half a century, demolition work at Evergreen Elementary School got underway Wednesday morning.

In July the inside of the building was gutted to remove hazardous materials, and just recently wrapped up. 

Wild Rose School Division Board of Trustees Chairman Russ Hickman says the division has received many enquiries about when the demolition will start, with many residents having fond memories of the school.

“Many people have called wanting to witness the end of an era when the building is torn down,” said Hickman.

WRSD Superintendent Brad Volkman said that the demolition of the school is expected to take up to two weeks to complete. 

As for a timeline by mid-October the planning phase of the school is slated to be wrapped up, with construction going out to tender by early November. Shovels are hoped to be in the ground by February 2019. 

The new school is planned to be opened by January 2021, with a capacity of 250 students. That figure can be ballooned to 450 with modular classrooms being added to the building when needed.

The new building will not be built on the same footprint as the old one, and all but one of the playgrounds won’t have to be moved to accommodate the new school.

Hickman added that the division is excited to be building a facility that will serve the children of Drayton Valley for years to come, and will bring with it a 21st century learning experience.