Air circulation is much improved, said society president
The busy students at the Sun Peaks Secondary Academy are benefiting from an enhanced breathing experience.
After lobbying from the Sun Peaks Education Society (SPES), which operates the academy, new ventilation systems were installed in the two portables that make up the school, which offers a supportive environment for Grades 10 through 12 students to pursue online learning through School District 73 (SD73).
Jenny Hawes, president of SPES, said that the difference in air quality is remarkable.
“As soon as you walk right in, you can tell there’s a huge difference,” she said.
“We virtually had no air circulation at all. The levels were like half of where they should have been in terms of the ventilation system.”
Hawes said the portables were tested for ventilation and air quality at the start of the school year and proved to be substandard, at least relative to today’s building codes.
“Over time the building standards have changed,” she noted.
Hawes said the decision was made to email SD73, which subsequently worked with the municipality to pay for the installation of the new systems. The municipality ultimately footed the bill for the ventilation systems, which costs $7,558.34 in total.
“We’re very grateful to both SD73 as well as the municipality for supporting us in that endeavor,” said Hawes.
She added that money was saved thanks to local electric company Smart Electrical, which donated labour for the electrical work.
The SPES remains committed to seeing a permanent school built in Sun Peaks, one that would educate Kindergarten to Grade 12 students. Hawes noted that Sun Peaks is currently on the list of capital projects for SD73. It sits in fifth position for new school builds, behind a new elementary school in Pineview Valley, a new elementary school in Batchelor Heights, a new secondary school in Aberdeen, and a new elementary school in Juniper Ridge west.
“We’re hoping for a brick and mortar school at some point,” she said.
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