Shas Ti Secondary Kelly Road Secondary on budget as finishing touches get added ahead of return to school

Shas Ti Secondary Kelly Road Secondary will accommodate 900 students, which is a substantial change from the days of 1957 when the original building was a two-room elementary school. However, the gradual return to class due to the COVID-19 pandemic will allow students to better situate themselves within the new facility. All spaces have been designed with inclusive education as a priority.

It’s cutting edge in both technology and its design. The school has been built to a LEED Gold equivalency, which means it meets the highest international certification standards for being environmentally friendly.

Seeing the gradual development of the school since becoming superintendent earlier this year has been a satisfying experience for Anita Richardson.

“Watching Shas Ti Secondary Kelly Road Secondary come together has been really an incredible process,” said Richardson. “Especially over the summer when you’re starting to see all of the finishing touches and things getting cleaned up. Seeing the incredible learning spaces that are in this building, this facility; the way that teachers will be able to collaborate, students will be able to collaborate, and just maximize on all of the things that we know are good for students learning.”

While it may liken to Duchess Park in terms of layout, which was completed in 2010, the technology built into the new facility and the design of the building sets it apart from the other schools in the district.

“One of the things, I know every tour that I come on, is seeing all of the trees and the greenery that looks back at you when you’re in any space in the school is outstanding,” said Richardson. “All of the spaces where kids can collaborate, the spaces where they can charge their devices and laptops, and work together, it’s almost similar in mind to an airport where you can have your own space to work and feel comfortable in. I think for teachers, some of the key things that people may not think about is the independent heating in each classroom and all of the interactive technology that’s in the building, right down to the microphones so they’re cutting down on the wear and tear of their voices every day.”

The building also sports three all-gender washrooms, with fully enclosed stalls.

“I think gender-neutral bathrooms are a good indicator of the way we’re moving in society and just making sure that we’re inclusive, and making sure that everyone feels safe and welcomed in all of our schools,” stated Richardson.

As part of the building’s open concept design, two classrooms have sliding glass wall systems, giving students the opportunity for collaborative learning. A folding glass wall allows for the learning commons to open onto the west end of the atrium, opening the area up to a rough equivalent of a football field. That open concept is even more notable in the school’s atrium, where a three-dimensional wood design illustrated the importance of the Nechako and Fraser rivers to the region.

According to the architect of the facility, the cost of the new facility took about 30 million of the 44.4 million dollars from the province and school district.

The remaining amount will be put towards the demolition of the old Kelly Road as soon as all materials have been moved out, that’s expected to be spring of 2021, as well as the preparation for the installation of roadways, bus lanes, and parking lots.

by Ethan Ready

Shas Ti Secondary Kelly Road Secondary on budget as finishing touches get added ahead of return to school

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