(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Ian Gustafson

New Schools

RDCRS approves 3-year capital plan which includes two new schools

Apr 1, 2025 | 4:28 PM

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools approved its three-year capital plan on Tuesday, with multiple big construction projects on the horizon.

This includes a new high school in Sylvan Lake, the modernization of Notre Dame High School in Red Deer, and a new Kindergarten to Grade 9 school in Innisfail.

When it comes to the new high school in Sylvan Lake, the division said they approached the public board in Sylvan Lake to talk about a partnership on a new shared school, which has led to initial discussions with the Town of Sylvan Lake.

The division says based on current enrolment they anticipate a new high school in Sylvan Lake would have at least 325 students from Grades 9-12. The occupancy date for the high school is set for September 2028.

“A possible post-secondary partner would allow the school to offer courses for grades 9-12 students that would be exciting for central Alberta,” as stated in the capital plan. “Sylvan Lake continues to grow and we feel that we could grow the program into a school of 500 students.”

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The mini-modernization of Notre Dame High School, which is expected to be done by September 2027, would include repurposing the amphitheatre into four classrooms and expanding the construction shop space.

Meanwhile, the new school in Innisfail, which is expected to be done in September 2030, is focused on creating a Catholic school building to match the population growth.

“Innisfail is finally starting to realize population growth in the community, and we believe it is time to advocate for a Catholic school building rather than the temporary arrangement that was made when Catholic education began in the community,” as written in the Capital Plan.

The division says Chinook’s Edge School Division gave up space in John Wilson Elementary School, which created enough space for Catholic education to get started but the arrangement has posed challenges.

“Currently, RDCRS does not receive O&M funding or CMR/IMR funding for the building,” reads a statement from the Capital Plan. “When improvements are suggested to Chinook’s Edge, we find their funding has typically been allocated elsewhere in their division. Combine this with an enrolment projection that exceeds 100 per cent of the space we have been allocated, and we believe it is time to move to a building of our own.”

Also included in the new construction projects is a new Kindergarten to Grade 5 school in Sylvan Lake for September 2031 and a new Kindergarten to Grade 5 elementary school in Red Deer for September 2034.

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