By Troy Gillard

“Right-sizing” badly needed

Modernizing Rocky Elementary remains top priority for Wild Rose School Division

Mar 31, 2021 | 10:18 AM

Modernizing École Rocky Elementary remains a top priority for Wild Rose School Division under its updated Three Year Capital Plan for 2022-2025.

The K to 5 school was first built in 1948, expanded in 1950 and 1971 and significantly modernized in 1989. The school’s current capacity is approximately 570 students.

As the last modernization was over 30 years ago, many of the elements from that work have now met or exceeded their design life, school division officials say. Examples include the heating boilers and distribution system, air handling systems, building management system, fire alarm system, lighting (exterior and interior), electrical systems, windows and roofing.

“A major modernization of the facility would renew these components in a proactive manner reducing potential negative impact to the occupants, provide the greatest financial benefit, meet new energy standards to reduce operating costs and extend the useful life of this facility,” the capital plan reads.

“As well, during the modernization, a right sizing process would be used to remove the two story (west) section of the building reducing the building size and eliminating current access issues to the basement area,” the plan continues. “The right sizing process would be combined with the modernization, replacement components would be appropriately sized for the smaller facility area therefore increasing efficiency and reducing capital costs.”

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Every year school boards assess their school capital requirements and prioritize proposed projects based on defined priorities. These projects are identified in a Three Year Capital Plan that must be approved by the Board and submitted to Alberta Education annually by April 1.

Wild Rose School Division’s updated plan submission also includes right-sizing Breton schools and a major modernization of Frank Maddock High School in Drayton Valley in its top three priorities.