(Photo: Google Maps)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Considering The Future

Virtual town hall meeting Thursday on future of St. Gabriel Learning Centre

May 25, 2020 | 2:05 PM

The future of St. Gabriel Online School in Red Deer is the subject of a virtual town hall meeting taking place this week.

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools is hosting the online meeting Thursday night (May 28) starting at 6:30 p.m.

District officials say they are looking at closing the school due changes in the provincial education funding framework. The school’s lease at their downtown location on 48 Avenue expires June 30.

“The new funding framework does not make distance learning a viable model for Red Deer Catholic, therefore we are proposing an elimination of St. Gabriel Online School,” Interim Superintendent Kathleen Finnigan said in a statement last month. “Our high schools (École Secondaire Notre Dame High School and St. Joseph High School in Red Deer, and St. Dominic Catholic High School in Rocky Mountain House) could begin to offer online classes in September. St. John Paul II Outreach School may remain as an educational choice for students.”

St. Gabriel Online School offers students a blended learning environment, meaning education is done both online learning and in a traditional classroom setting.

mayor hopes to meet housing minister this month

Alberta demands Ottawa back off on housing funding stripped from Red Deer

17h ago

Last seen Jan. 15

Missing: Courtney Cattleman, 17, of Maskwacis

22h ago

eyes up

Air Spray training around Red Deer Regional Airport

23h ago

“Any Red Deer Catholic high school student, no matter which school they attend, can take courses offered in a blended environment in any one of our other high schools,” Red Deer Catholic notes on its website.

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools is also clarifying that St. John Paul II Outreach School will be not closing, but is moving to St. Benedict the Moor Centre on 39 Street (between Maryview and St. Thomas Aquinas Middle School).

“St. John Paul II Outreach School will continue to serve students in an outreach and home school environment,” the district says.

To RSVP for Thursday’s virtual town hall, or to submit questions, email juanita.heidt@rdcrs.ca. Those wishing to make a presentation and/or ask questions to the Board of Trustees are asked to indicate so in their email.

RELATED: Cuts coming this fall for Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools

RELATED: Student devastated by closure of St. Gabriel Online School