By Sheldon Spackman

Capital Concerns

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools still waiting on funding announced for new middle school in Red Deer

Apr 3, 2020 | 1:15 PM

Concerns are growing amongst trustees with Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) regarding the lack of progress being made towards their biggest capital need – a new middle school for Red Deer.

On Mar. 31, the Board of Trustees approved their 2020-2021 to 2022-2023 Three-Year Capital Plan which identifies several new construction and addition projects, including a new 6-9 middle school in Red Deer as its top priority.

Board Chair Anne Marie Watson says the plan is identical to last year’s plan, but despite government design funding announced for the project last fall, and construction funding expected soon afterwards, nothing has come forward at this point.

“It has been almost six months since that announcement, and we have not even learned how much money the government is providing for design of this school, let alone the dollar amount for the construction phase,” reveals Watson. “This is concerning because this school is desperately needed. Our middle schools in Red Deer are over 110 per cent utilization rate, with one school, St. Thomas, at 137 per cent utilization rate.”

Further concerning for the Board is the fact other schools that were announced last fall, are now moving forward, yet RDCRS’s most urgent capital need continues to be in limbo.

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“The Board has worked with the City of Red Deer and has now secured a site,” explains Watson. “It will be built in Kentwood, in north Red Deer. There is still time to meet the Sept 2022 projected opening date, but that window of opportunity will soon close if the government does not release the already-promised design and construction dollars quickly.”

The District’s second item on the plan – a new K-5 school in Blackfalds, is said to be required in the very near future.

“Blackfalds continues to be among the fastest-growing municipalities in Alberta,” says Watson. “We have one school in that community, St. Gregory the Great – a pre-K to 9 school already at 90 per cent utilization. A new elementary school is needed in Blackfalds to address the continued population growth and the overcrowding at St. Gregory the Great.”

Other top five items identified in the Three-Year Capital Plan include a new K-5 school in Red Deer, a new K-5 French Immersion school in Red Deer, and a new K-5 school in Sylvan Lake.

Watson says those projects are projected to be needed within the next five years, depending on demographic trends in Red Deer and Sylvan Lake.

Despite the impact COVID-19 is having, Watson says capital projects must continue, saying they will be key in helping our province’s economy recover from the pandemic.

“Other provincial capital projects are moving ahead, such as the new courthouse in Red Deer and the new high school in Blackfalds,” notes Watson. “We urge the government to quickly follow through on its funding commitment for our new middle school in Red Deer, and to address our other capital needs.”

Watson says while in-school learning is currently suspended due to the pandemic, she knows it will resume at some point in the future, with students returning to class in already crowded schools.

“The way we have quickly changed our delivery model will build capacity for our teachers and staff to teach in an online environment,” suggests Watson. “While this is a good temporary solution, online learning cannot replace face-to-face learning for the long-term. We look forward to the time when we can return to teaching students in our schools.”

“I would just re-emphasize the need for the government to follow through on the promise it has already made to our students, families, and community,” concludes Watson. “The government must quickly release the design funding for the already approved middle school in Red Deer, and at the same time commit the construction dollars so we can complete this project and open that new school by Sept. 2022.”