While the Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) is thrilled with the funding announced yesterday to build a new school in Cochrane, a district trustee says it does nothing to eliminate the pressure of student population growth.

Yesterday, Education minister Adriana LaGrange and Infrastructure minister Prasad Panda announced funding has been approved for a new catholic elementary/junior high school to replace the Holy Spirit Elementary School.

CCSD vice-chairman Linda Wellman says the lease on the existing building has expired and won't be renewed.

"While we're delight to get this space for Cochrane, it does nothing to eliminate the pressures from growth, because this is actually a replacement school."

The new school will be a K to 9 with a capacity for 800 students. Few details beyond that are available at this time.

“The school projects announced in the Budget 2019 capital plan will now undergo detailed planning and design," says Infrastructure minister Prasad Panda. "Through this work, and in consultation with the school divisions and a construction contractor, the target dates will be identified for both construction completion and school occupancy.”

Replacing the Holy Spirit school was the number two priority for CCSD in its 2020-21 capital plan. A new Airdrie catholic high school has long been its top priority, but the district has been unable to secure the land required.

Little was approved for Rocky View Schools. Only design funding was OKed for a new junior/senior high school (grades 7-12) in Langdon, which is the division's top priority.

The division's number two priority is expanding Bow Valley High School.

Rocky View officials aren't expected to comment until late Monday.

Fourteen other new schools were approved. Another six are slated for replacement, and four will receive modernization or additions.

Together, the 25 projects will receive $397 million.