Winnipeg’s overcrowded Seven Oaks division to get new school

Provincial officials have unveiled plans to build a new school in Winnipeg’s Riverbend area.

Premier Greg Selinger made the announcement from Belmont School on Wednesday, saying the school will have room for about 400 Kindergarten to Grade 5 students.

The school will also have a new child care centre with room for more than 50 preschool children and a dozen infants.

Design work is already underway for the new school, with plans calling for it to be just under 50,000 sq. ft.

Earlier this year, Seven Oaks School Division expressed concerns over the lack of space for students. Belmont School in particular was forced to hold classes in their library after overcrowding took over all of their classrooms and portables.

The school was built for about 150 students, and currently has over 320 enrolled. The school was supposed to have two new portables built to help with the problem, but construction was delayed and the portables weren’t ready until well after the school year started.

While the new Riverbend school will not be open for years, Winnipeg's North End is scheduled to have another new school open in Amber Trails in 2015. The school will range from Kindergarten to Grade 8.