By Troy Gillard

updated capital plan

New Catholic schools sought for Blackfalds, Red Deer, Sylvan Lake

Apr 6, 2021 | 1:31 PM

The Board of Trustees for Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools has approved the district’s Three-Year Capital Plan for 2021-2022 to 2024-2025.

With funding already approved for a new 6-9 school in Red Deer (St. Lorenzo Ruiz Middle School, expected to open in September 2023), now topping the district’s wish list are a new K-5 School in Blackfalds, new K-5 School in Red Deer, new K-5 French Immersion School in Red Deer and a new K-5 School in Sylvan Lake.

St. Gregory the Great Catholic School in Blackfalds opened in September 2017 and currently has a 113% utilization rate (326 full-time equivalent students). District officials say that with the Blackfalds community continuing to grow at an above average pace, the school will be 30% overcapacity by 2023 and a new school will be needed for September 2024.

RDCRS has applied for two modular classrooms for St. Gregory the Great as a short-term solution.

“Families and young people in our region continue to choose Catholic education. Over the last 10 years, enrolment in our Division has increased by 50 per cent and many of our schools are operating well beyond their utilization capacity”, said Board Chair Kim Pasula.

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“We expect continued enrolment growth throughout the region, especially in Blackfalds, Sylvan Lake and Red Deer, and our near-term capital plan reflects the need for new schools in each of these priority areas.”

RDCRS is hosting a community engagement session for St. Lorenzo Ruiz Middle School today (April 6) at 5 p.m. Find out more here.

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After moving to a traditional calendar for the 2020-21 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Patrick’s Community School will return to year-round learning.

At its meeting last week, the Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools Board of Trustees approved the school’s 2021-2022 calendar to return to year-round schooling as of August 5, 2021 for staff and August 9, 2021 for students.

The St. Patrick’s Community School year-round calendar can be found here.

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The Board of Trustees is currently advocating for school staff COVID-19 vaccinations and use of rapid testing.

To keep our schools open and mitigate the academic and psychological risks of continual quarantining pressures on staff, students and families, Board Chair Kim Pasula expressed hope that, especially with new vaccines coming on line, school staff vaccinations will be moved forward as a priority in the rollout.

Pasula also shared that RDCRS is open and eager to assist the government with this work.

RDCRS is also a member of the Alberta Catholic Schools Trustees’ Association. Trustees were pleased to see that the association has as well advocated for vaccinations of front-line staff in schools in Alberta, the North West Territories and the Yukon.