Province to fund flood mitigation for 8 damaged schools

The province announced funding on Monday to shore up eight schools in southern Alberta against future flood damage.

• Elbow Park School to be torn down and rebuilt, CBE votes
• Flood damage forcing High River students into portables

The schools three in Calgary and five in High River will be eligible for up to $2.5 million if their boards can demonstrate they need flood mitigation measures over and above that covered by insurance.

Mitigation measures may include landscaping and site remediation, relocation of susceptible equipment like electrical, as well as installation of flood-proof doors and windows.

There are three flood-damaged schools in Calgary eligible for mitigation funding:

• Elbow Park School.
• Rideau Park School.
• St. Marys School.

There are also several schools inHigh River that can access the funding:

• Holy Spirit Academy.
• Notre Dame Collegiate.
• Right Honourable Joe Clark School.
• Senator Riley School.
• Spitzee Elementary School.

Notre Dame Collegiate school hasundergone major renovations since last June's flood.Superintendent ScottMorissonsays about a million dollarshas been spent on flood proofing the building and those costs were not covered by insurance.

Math and science teacherJessica Larocque says she looks forward to getting back to a potentially much safer environment.

"I know the portables are going to be raised a bit higher they said, so they won't float away," she said."So it's nice to know those little steps have been taken."