Families in Brooks and the surrounding area received some good news. 

The provincial government has approved the construction of a new school to replace Brooks Junior High School. The current school is over 70 years old. 

"This new facility, with its ease of accessibility and modern design, will allow us to continue to provide a world-class education for our students," said Pat Connor, board chair of Grasslands Public Schools.

The new school will be located at the same site and will replace the current junior high school. The provincial government said in a release that students will still have the opportunity to learn at the existing school, while the construction happens where the current track and football fields are located.

"When fully built, it will provide space for an additional 157 students, totalling 820 students, allowing space for enrolment growth," the release stated.

The current junior high school has a total student capacity of 663. It was originally constructed in 1953 with additions in 1959, 1972 and 1985.

The next step is for the project to be tendered for contract. Additional details such as total project costs and timelines will be available once a contractor has been selected. While specific timelines are yet to be determined, it is anticipated that the new school could start welcoming students in the 2027/28 school year.

Alberta's provincial government has set aside $2.1 billion to build and modernize schools across Alberta. The new school in Brooks is one of 43 projects in this year's budget.