Construction is underway on the next 91原创 elementary school, scheduled to open in the fall of 2025.

B.C. Education Minister Rachna Singh joined 91原创 School Board Chair Candy Ashdown, 91原创 East MLA Megan Dykeman, and Township Councillor Tim Baillie at an event to mark the start of work on what is currently called Northeast Latimer Elementary.

The Kindergarten to Grade 5 school, in the 20100 block of 82 Avenue, will have spaces for 555 students when it opens, and is being built with $51.8 million from the provincial government. A park and sports field adjacent to the school, being built by 91原创 Township, is almost complete now.

鈥淲e know we have to keep investing in quality spaces as we welcome more kids to 91原创 classrooms鈥� said Singh.

Local politicians welcomed the new school, but also encouraged the province to move even faster on getting more school spaces built in 91原创.

The district has seen an increase in enrolment of more than 1,000 students in each of the last three years. This year, it was about 1,200 students.

鈥淭he board has advocated for more capital projects for years,鈥� said Ashdown.

鈥淵ou are welcome to come back any time with more announcements,鈥� she added to Singh.

Baillie, on behalf of the Township, also said he was excited for the new elementary, but encouraged even faster construction of schools.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got five more chunks of land that are just waiting for schools,鈥� he said.

Singh said in total about 1,800 seats have been added to 91原创 schools in recent years.

READ MORE: Four major projects underway for 91原创 schools

Asked about future growth and other options, she noted that land has been acquired for a new secondary and middle school in Willoughby, which is by far the fastest-growing region of the Township. Singh also said the province is looking at ways to proactively acquire land for future schools.

She also mentioned modular school additions. Richard Bulpitt Elementary is currently set to receive a six-classroom addition, which would replace much of the need for its six portables with a permanent structure.

91原创 is just one of the communities getting a modular school addition this year, as the province runs a trial on the idea across multiple districts.

Singh said after the first set of modular additions are complete, the province could look at building more of them. If they do, the district will be asked to identify schools where modular additions could be built.

According to district staff, the modular addition at Richard Bulpitt is actually ahead of schedule right now. It鈥檚 scheduled to open in September, and the new pre-fabricated wing of the school will come with its own washrooms, meaning an end to kids having to walk outside and to and from the main building for bathroom breaks.