Future Lethbridge elementary school children may have more options than ever before.

The Government of Alberta has announced $2 billion dollars  will go toward building and modernizing schools across the province. Three of the 50 new schools planned to go under construction within Alberta are in Lethbridge. This includes a new elementary school for the Copperwood area on city’s west side.

“They’ll be distributing funds for our planning and design by next year so that construction can proceed the following year,” Lethbridge Public School District Superintendent Cheryl Gilmore said.  “It may look like a big, empty field right now, but this will be the location of the new elementary school.”

Construction should begin in early 2015 and wrap up late in 2017. The school will accommodate up to 600 students once it’s finalized according to Gilmore.

Eighth grade math teacher, Deana Dypolt, says more schools with fewer students would be beneficial for learning. Dypolt adds teachers will also benefit from smaller class sizes, as it’ll be easier to welcome new students to classrooms not already beyond capacity.