
Numbers rising as west-side school nears completion
LETHBRIDGE – A new elementary school on the city’s west side is approaching capacity — and it hasn’t even opened yet.
Numbers are not yet confirmed for the fall at Coalbanks Elementary School. But principal Joey Gentile said in an interview the school is already anticipated to have more than 420 kindergarten to grade five students when it opens in September. Projections last November were for 300-350 students.
“The building is built to be able to house 500 students,” Gentile told Lethbridge News Now. “Obviously if the numbers down the road increase then you’re looking at expanding the building already with portables.”
The school is located in the new Copperwood neighbourhood. Gentile said it will also help relieve pressure on west-side schools like Mike Mountain Horse, Nicholas Sheran, and Dr. Probe.