(Penhold Elementary School - Facebook)

By Sheldon Spackman

Part Of Larger Provincial Investments

Design funding announced for replacement of Penhold Elementary School

Mar 4, 2022 | 1:53 PM

Officials with Chinook’s Edge School Division have received confirmation from the Alberta government of funding on the way for the design of a new school to replace Penhold Elementary School (Grades 4-8).

On Mar. 4, the UCP announced Alberta’s government is investing $251 million over three years in new funding for 15 priority school projects.

These projects include new schools in Calgary, Edmonton and Camrose; modernizations in Acme, Cochrane, Evansburg and Milk River; design funding for schools in Sherwood Park, Raymond, Manning, Penhold and Valleyview; and a water main repair for a school in Slave Lake.

According to provincial officials, these Budget 2022 school projects will provide new and improved student spaces, create jobs and revitalize communities across the province.

“As Alberta’s Recovery Plan continues to drive our economic recovery, we know we need a strong education system to equip our next generation with the tools and skills they need to succeed in our modern, diversified economy,” said Premier Jason Kenney. “These new and upgraded schools will do just that, while creating more jobs and making life better for Alberta families.”

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“This investment shows our unwavering support for student learning in state-of-the art schools that will also benefit parents and communities,” added Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Education. “We’re meeting the need for additional classroom space across the province while creating healthy and safe learning environments for students and teachers.”

“New schools and modernization projects throughout the province are creating vital economic activity in Alberta communities and supporting thousands of jobs related to project planning, design and construction,” noted Prasad Panda, Minister of Infrastructure. “We’re focused on ensuring students have, as quickly as possible, the top-quality schools they need to help them succeed.”

Shawn Russell, Associate Superintendent of Corporate Services for Chinook’s Edge School Division, says they’re very excited with the announcement.

“It’s not really a surprise, our utilization rates are very high in the community of Penhold and we are in desperate need of new space for our elementary and middle school-aged students there, so we’re very pleased that we were one of the 15 announced,” he exclaimed. “Right now it is design funding we were announced for, but we anticipate that based on past announcements, the following year, if you get design, you typically get announced for the build.”

Russell notes, however, that the design phase could take between six and 12 months, depending on when they receive detailed information, which they haven’t received yet.

“We anticipate receiving that information over the next several weeks and starting the process,” he explained. “In terms of shovels in the ground, there’s been no funding announced for actual construction of the school yet, it’s just the design phase. We would like to see shovels in the ground as soon as possible, but again, that funding has not been announced.”

Government officials say the 2022 Capital Plan invests $2 billion over three years to support these 15 school projects, continue work on previously announced projects, maintain existing schools and support charter school infrastructure, including collegiate programs. This is said to include $118 million over the next three years to support the continued implementation of the modular program to address the most urgent needs for additional space across the province.

Also included is $209 million over three years to support the maintenance and renewal of existing school buildings through the Capital Maintenance and Renewal Program and $300 million over three years in school authority self-directed capital projects.

Budget 2022 school capital projects:

*Design funding only

Alberta’s opposition NDP, however, says Friday’s UCP announcement of only 15 school projects for Alberta does not adequately address the critical infrastructure and staffing issues across the province.

“Two new schools in three years for public and Catholic students in the city of Calgary are not enough. Even these two schools are now at least two years behind thanks to the UCP,” said Sarah Hoffman, NDP Education Critic.

“There is a critical space crunch in Calgary where many classrooms are so crowded some students have their desks in the hallway or they have to travel 45 minutes to and from school because there isn’t one in their community.”

Hoffman is also very disappointed that Edmonton Public was shut out of funding for new schools despite having one of the fastest-growing student populations in the province.

“I simply don’t believe Minister LaGrange when she says that decision wasn’t motivated by UCP politics.”

Beyond capital spending, Hoffman said the reality is that “buildings don’t educate students, teachers do.”

The UCP’s budget shows there are almost 1,000 fewer teachers in Alberta since Rachel Notley was Premier.

“So, let’s be clear: the UCP is refusing to put enough teachers in the schools we already have,” Hoffman said.

The NDP says this trend is likely to get worse in the coming year as the education budget doesn’t increase above population growth and inflation, while a recent ATA survey suggests as many as a third of Alberta teachers will be leaving the profession or leaving the province in the coming year.

“We know that Alberta needs more schools and more teachers but the UCP is refusing to disclose how many students will enter K-12 classrooms this fall,” Hoffman said.

“It’s yet another reason why Albertans can’t trust the UCP.”