The provincial government announced they would fund a significant expansion to Mitchell Elementary School last week. Superintendent Randy Dueck feels this addition is long due.

“For the last two years, this addition has been our number one request. We are so grateful the province deemed our need severe enough to move ahead with this.”

According to Dueck, the overpopulation of the elementary school dates back much further than two years. Between 2012 and 2016 birthrates in the Mitchell community jumped from 33 annually, to 84.

“I’ve got data that tells me that 180 new homes have been built in Mitchell in the past 6 years and during that time the number of students in the school has increased by 100,” states Dueck. “Our numbers are increasing by roughly 20 students each year, and that’s been steady.”

In light of the elementary school’s addition, Dueck indicates that the division must look critically at Mitchell Middle School. “Our next step is to develop a case study for MMS so we can analyze that data and understand exactly how much room there is to handle the growth that will be coming its way.”

Dueck admits that a future expansion at the middle school is a very real possibility. The division’s decision on this will be finalized by this coming April.

 

Read more: Multi-Million Dollar Expansion Plans Announced For Mitchell Elementary School