School District 57 is asking the province for $41 million to help replace Kelly Road secondary school.
"This is a very necessary replacement. It's been on our capital plan since 2012," said trustee Sharel Warrington, who chairs the education services committee.
It topped the district's five-year capital wishlist, to be submitted to the Ministry of Education at the end of the month.
Renovations to Nusdeh Yoh elementary sat second on the list, at a cost of almost $2.8 million.
Previously the district had planned to replace it as well, but this year opted for renovations and the cheaper price tag.
Since 2008 the district has been calling for an addition to DP Todd secondary to increase its capacity from 625 students to 750, and remove the modular classrooms.
According to the district's long-range facility report, DP Todd is already working over capacity with more than 700 students enrolled in 2013.
"We've been trying to get that one done for seven years," chairperson Tony Cable said.
Warrington said approval takes times, as was the case with the College Heights secondary school upgrades.
"CHSS was on the list for many many years," she said.
The Duchess Park secondary school replacement started in 2008 and finished in March 2010, said district secretary treasurer Allan Reed.
That cost about $39 million.
"That's a good perspective to have," said Cable, to know it was a similar cost as the Kelly Road estimate.
It's based on a school capacity for 850 students, about 100 more than attend the secondary school today, the board heard.
"These are significant needs," said Warrington of the three schools on the provincial wishlist.
"All of these projects will be required to be completed by the district," she said, but the district can't know if the ministry will approve them.
"If they do that frees up other dollars" to support other projects, she said.
"We're very, very hopeful that this project will be approved," Warrington said.
