Construction of the new $55.2-million Salish Secondary school is well underway in north Clayton.
Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Stephanie Cadieux, Surrey-Panorama MLA Marvin Hunt and Surrey School District officials toured the Salish Secondary school construction site on Friday, Feb. 17.
The new 1,500-student school is located at 7278 184 Street and, when completed, will ease some of the overcrowding at nearby Lord Tweedsmuir and Clayton Heights Secondary schools.
"I am thrilled to see construction of the new Salish Secondary is on track to serve families of the community well into the future," said Stephanie Cadieux, MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale.
From left: Surrey Board of Education Chairperson Shawn Wilson, Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Stephanie Cadieux, Surrey School District Site Manager Dick Koch, and Surrey-Panorama MLA Marvin Hunt.
The $55.2-million school has an open-concept design that focuses on collaborative spaces, not unlike the new elementary school to be constructed in Clayton.
The school will feature "modern learning spaces" in support B.C.'s new curriculum, according to a Ministry of Education statement. It will include a theatre, two gymnasiums, fitness rooms, a large open-concept student common area and several outdoor and rooftop social spaces.
The school will have many outdoor social spaces. This courtyard will have kilns, planters and an outdoor classroom.
Shawn Wilson, chairperson, Surrey Board of Education, said Salish Secondary incorporates the "latest and best features of school design to support student learning," in regard to both BC's new curriculum and "21st century" learning.
Construction began in fall of 2016 and is expected to finish in 2018.
The school is expected to be open for students in September 2018.
According to Surrey School District Site Manager Dick Koch, workers will soon begin installing water and sewer lines, traffic lights and expanding the adjacent roads, all of which is expected to be finished by September 2017.