Today, Minister Hancock and Minister of Infrastructure Ray Danyluk announced that construction will soon begin on ten new schools in Edmonton and the Calgary region. Three will be constructed in high growth areas in Edmonton, five in Calgary, and one each in Okotoks and Langdon. All of the schools will open to students in September 2012.

The schools, which will variously serve grades 5-9, K-9, and K-4, present a significant cost savings to taxpayers. At $253 million for construction and a 30-year maintenance contract, the price of the schools represents a savings to taxpayers of $105 million from a traditional build price of $358 million.

The schools in today's announcement are the second part of the ASAP2 (Alberta Schools Alternative Procurement) program. Four high schools are also being built in the first part of ASAP2. In June 2007, the Government of Alberta announced the construction of 18 new schools in Calgary and Edmonton under ASAP1. These schools are now nearing completion, and will be opening to students this fall.

Further details are available on the Government of Alberta news release.