The Hanover School Division (HSD) has submitted an updated five year capital plan to the province, and this time, it includes a request for a new school.
"We're very excited for Parkhill School to alleviate stress points for occupancy in our earlier (year) schools in Steinbach. We recognize that some of our other schools and communities are also very full," says Joe Thiessen, superintendent of the HSD.
Since the division was recently awarded Parkhill School, he says it may take time before they are able to build another.
However, he acknowledges the rate at which HSD, and the communities around it, have been growing.
"We're very hopeful," Thiessen says.
The requested school would be a high school he says, and accommodate around 600 students.
Given the high school has only just been requested, further details are unavailable at this time.
Thiessen notes construction on Parkhill School is well underway, and will soon be welcoming visitations, which he looks forward to.
The superintendent also gives an update on Green Valley School in Grunthal, which the province recently committed to funding renovations for—including a larger gymnasium and additional classrooms.
It has yet to go to tender, but the process is rolling, Thiessen says.
"We're excited, we're being patient," he says. "We're just hopeful it's moving forward quickly."
Other requests included in the HSD's updated capital plan include renovations, modular additions to some schools, as well as four classroom additions in schools where attendance has been trending upward.