The Abbotsford School District has collected more than $4 million from the sale of the old Simpson Traditional site, after it was bought by a group which intends to build a trade school on the property.

School District 34 secretary-treasurer Mark Lee said the former traditional middle school at 30691 Simpson Rd., which was a converted elementary school, has been sold to the Metis Provincial Council of B.C. for $4.6 million.

The group’s trade school proposal still has to go through a public hearing and will then be pitched to Abbotsford city council, but should it be approved, the 13.5 acre property would be renovated to provide educational options to Metis people and the broader community.

Malonie Langthorne, the B.C. Metis Provincial Council’s chief executive officer, said the group decided to place its bid after enjoying ongoing success locally with the Metis Skills and Employment Centre at 2020 Abbotsford Way. That location opened three years ago, said Langthorne, to help address a skills shortage in B.C.

Langthorne said the base on Abbotsford Way provides trades skills for up 20 aboriginal and non-aborginal people in six-week blocks. If approved, she said the Simpson Road location, situated close to Progressive Way just off Mount Lehman Road, would be able to accommodate a similar clientele of up to 100 students.

Areas of focus would include construction, culinary arts, computer skills and work safety training, with a push towards building “essential skills” to help students find jobs.

Other bonuses with the Simpson Road site, according to Langthorne, are its handicapped access and close proximity to a

“riparian zone” containing streams and wildlife.

The 54-year-old Simpson Traditional middle school was closed in June 2006.

In March 2006, the school district announced that once the property was sold, $1 million of the purchase price would help fund the now complete $15.3-million Abbotsford Middle School.

Approximately $1.2 million has been used to pay for renovations to the Abbotsford Traditional School.

The remaining $2.4 million, Lee said, has been put into the school district’s restricted capital reserve fund. That money will primarily be used to pay for updates at schools including roofs and boilers.