Lloydminster Public School officials aim to have the new gym at the Lloydminster Comprehensive High School ready for use by Feb. 1, 2024.
Media were led on a tour of the work to date by division representatives as they expressed their excitement for the $30 million expansion at the 1956 high school.
The gym will have two full-sized basketball courts, three volleyball courts, eight badminton courts, and bleachers for 400 spectators.
With bi-provincial, City of Lloydminster, and community input, the 12,800 square foot Synergy Place – Home of the Barons will also be open for community use. The upgrade also houses 1,500 square feet of fitness space and several classrooms on the upper floor. These include science classes, STEM programs, art, media studies, and home economics among other subject areas.
In looking to the future use, Matt Read, chief financial officer sees the numerous opportunities as the school expands to 1,400 students and the potential to host community and even provincial events.
“This will be available for public use outside of school hours. I know the Rustlers volleyball program are already planning to have some tournaments here, such as basketball tournaments. And just in general, more gym space and fitness space in the community.”
Read notes the City of Lloydminster’s input stemmed from its desire for more recreational spaces in the community.
Wayne Grassl, facilities manager for the school division says they are about 90 per cent complete.
“We are still waiting on things like exterior doors, some of the exterior finishes are not complete. Almost every trade, I guess would be in their finishing stages right now, doing things like putting receptacles in walls, putting ceiling tiles in, finishing painting and things like that.”
Grades across the LPSD are also being reconfigured starting next September. At the elementary level, grades will move to K to five. Middle school will change to six to eight and the high school will bring in grade nines and go from nine to grade twelve.
With the excitement building, the school will begin to occupy the new space ahead of a formal opening with the Saskatchewan Education minister later in the new year.
