Hunting Hills High School in Red Deer. (Red Deer Public Schools)

By Sheldon Spackman

Capital Priorities

Hunting Hills modernization, addition remains top capital priority for Red Deer Public Schools

Feb 20, 2020 | 1:52 PM

Modernization and expansion at Hunting Hills High School remains the number one capital priority for Red Deer Public Schools.

The Board of Trustees has approved the 2021-2024 Three Year Capital Plan.

Officials say the roughly $30 million dollar project would address issues with the building’s roof, mechanical and electrical issues, as well as other functional concerns.

Board chair Nicole Buchanan says they’re hopeful that the project will be announced as part of the government’s next round of capital funding.

“Initially when we had inspectors go in, we were looking at repairing the roof with our infrastructure and maintenance renewal dollars,” says Buchanan. “But at that time, the roof itself was $7 million and we were advised by Alberta Education that due to the dollar amount, we wouldn’t be able to use infrastructure and maintenance renewal funding.”

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The addition portion of the project, according to Buchanan, icludes eight new classrooms for the school.

“Modular classrooms have been requested if we don’t receive news that Hunting Hills is approved as a capital plan project,” says Buchanan. “So two modular classrooms to help address the high utilization at that school. It’s a 25-year-old school and it just needs the work to be done.”

The Board’s second priority is a new Grade 6-8 school in the Timber Ridge neighbourhood of northeast Red Deer, a facility hoped to accommodate 600 students.

However, Buchanan admits it would be “very unlikely” to learn of any funding for the new middle school in this year’s capital announcements.

Other capital priorities noted for Red Deer Public Schools currently include the modernizations of Gateway Christian School, Fairview Elementary School, Glendale School and Eastview Middle School.

A new Grade 9-12 high school accommodating 1,000 students and located next to St. Joseph High School in northeast Red Deer, is also part of the District’s Three Year Capital Plan.

District officials say the 2021-2024 Three Year Capital Plan being submitted by April 1, 2020, is identical to one submitted last year.

Should provincial funding be approved it’s hoped the modernization and addition to Hunting Hills High School can be completed in 2023.