In a significant step towards addressing the educational needs of a rapidly growing community, MLA Ravi Parmar, in partnership with the Sooke School District, announced the acquisition of a 7.2-acre site at 2460 Gateway Road in North Langford this morning. This site will house a future middle school, supporting the increasing number of families in the region. The newly acquired land is located across from a future secondary school site, purchased in 2019. The District is currently developing a business case for the construction of this secondary school.
“With this new site for a future middle school, families in Langford can be confident that their children will have access to quality education closer to home,” said Ravi Parmar, MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca. “This investment builds on the largest expansion of public education in the Sooke School District's history, highlighting our ongoing commitment to creating more educational opportunities for our communities.”
This acquisition marks the District's largest capital investment since securing land for Belmont and Royal Bay Secondary Schools, with nearly $4.5 million of the $25 million purchase price coming from District funds.
"As the Westshore area continues to grow rapidly, securing land for a future middle school in North Langford is a crucial and welcome step," said Amanda Dowhy, Sooke School District Board Chair. "We are thankful for the province's ongoing commitment to expanding our capacity and supporting the increasing number of students in the Sooke School District."
It's important to note that securing the site is just the first step; the construction phase of a school build occurs when the Ministry of Education and Childcare approves the business proposal. Once approved, the construction process typically takes about 3 to 5 years to complete. This acquisition simply ensures the land is available for future use.