No new Protestant school will be built in north St. Albert this year even though the area serves 994 students and 664 of them are bused to other parts of the city.
“Our board would be remiss if we did not convey our extreme disappointment at once again, not having our top capital priorities recognized,” Protestant school board chair Joan Trettler wrote in a letter to Education Minister Dave Hancock.
The letter was sent in response to recent capital announcements by the ministry that promised $550 million to build or modernize 35 schools across the province. The plan, unveiled in late May, calls for construction of 22 new and replacement schools in Alberta’s fastest-growing communities, including Airdrie, Beaumont and Fort McMurray, as well as modernization for 13 existing schools.
In an interview Thursday, Trettler explained the board has made repeated requests to the province for improvements to W. D. Cuts Junior High School and for a new school for the Erin Ridge and Oakmont neighbourhoods. She expressed frustration about lack of planning on the part of the provincial government before neighbourhoods become populated.
“It seems to me that unless neighbourhoods are in dire straits, with absolutely nowhere to put kids, the government will not build new schools.”
Trettler was also concerned that ongoing structural repairs and upgrades in the schools within her district are not being funded.
“When W. D. Cuts school was first built, it was with the understanding that it would be a junior high. That changed before it even opened and it has always been a junior high but it has no shop and no home economics facilities,” Trettler explained. Requests to upgrade the Cuts date back to 1990.
“That fell victim to provincial funding cuts in the mid 1990s.”
As St. Albert grows north of Coal Mine Road, the need for an elementary school will increase, the school district argues.
“It is anticipated that approximately 1,100 school-age children will live in this area. Based upon current demographics, it is expected that approximately 300 of these students will be of elementary age attending St. Albert Protestant Schools,” said Michael Brenneis, associate superintendant of finance for the Protestant school board.
The estimated cost for a new elementary school in the northeast quadrant of the city is $11.5 million. The cost for upgrades to William D. Cuts Junior High School is estimated at $8.7 million.
“Our school board needs a plan that outlines if and when schools are going to be built. The government needs to address infrastructure in schools,” Trettler said.
Government spokesperson Tim Chamberlin said the $550 million for schooling is meant to address the most urgent needs.
“In this particular announcement there were other communities ahead of St. Albert, but certainly St. Albert’s [school] needs are on the government radar,” Chamberlin said.
On Wednesday the Protestant school board voted to establish a capital reserve of $840,000 from the sale of 70 Arlington Dr. The site is the future home of Aurora Place, a 30-unit Habitat for Humanity development.
“The board has not reached a decision about how the money will be used. But since it was from the sale of land it is delineated for capital purposes,” Brenneis said, adding the word “capital” suggests it could be used for things such as school modernization.
