School District 46(SD46) is taking steps to address a drainage issue at Madeira Park Elementary, which caused fecal coliform and E. coli contamination of the playing field.
During SD46’s April 9 regular board meeting, district board members adopted the 2025-2026 capital plan, which allocates $1.4 million for the first phase of plumbing upgrades at the school.
The secretary-treasurer's report from the meeting stated Madeira Park Elementary School has experienced long-standing drainage problems on the field and playground that may pose “significant health and safety risks” to students and staff.
Further, it said persistent water pooling across the playing field has led to contamination with fecal coliform and E. coli. The site also has a history of sinkholes caused by a failing underground culvert.
The report says the drainage issue is the district’s “highest priority and planning has been underway for several months.”
Nicholas Weswick, SD46 secretary-treasurer, said the project will involve the replacement of the underground culvert with modern materials, “freezing” the level and overall elevation of the field, and installing a subsurface drain pile in place, calling the project “exciting” and “a bit nerve-wracking.”
Because the cost of the project exceeds the maximum funding for minor capital funding, the Ministry of Education suggested the project be split into two phases for funding purposes and to allow the work to proceed.
The report clarified that this means sections of the project may be deferred until funding for the second phase is confirmed, this time next year.
During his report, Weswick said the school district also plans to set some funds aside from their annual facilities grant to “address the possibility that phase two funding may not be approved.”
Jordan Copp is the Coast Reporter’s civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
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