Prairie Rose School Division hoping to see funding in next year’s Alberta budget for schools

“We’re disappointed we didn’t get it this go around, but the project will continue to move forward as part of the design stage,” Boser said.

“You know, the hope is that we’ll be ready for tender along the same exact schedule that we had which is around November of 2024. And then at that point, we’ll have to wait till we get construction funding.”

Boser said they are through the schematic design process for Parkside.

“Which is essentially the layout of what the renovation and expansion will look like at Parkside school. We’re into the design development stage,” Boser said.

“Starting to look at a little bit more of the details of that design. We’re excited to get out with the community on April 11 to have an information night,” he added.

“It’s an opportunity for the public to come out and see some of the 3D renderings that have been designed for both the interior and the exterior of the school. They’re gonna have a first look at what things are gonna look like and have an opportunity to provide us some feedback.”

The information night will be held at Parkside School on April 11.

Planned new construction at this point includes a new gymnasium, a learning commons, and additional classrooms.

A shop class space would be part of the plan for the old gymnasium.

“The current gymnasium is gonna be renovated as well. We’re looking at a CTF shop for students in Redcliff,” said Boser.

“Right now, they’re going into Medicine Hat, being bused there for any sort of shop program. To have one right on site, there will be exciting,” he added.

“The library would be another one that we have in the design right now. Then the science program would be the third spot for that as well.”

New to the capital plan is expansion at Eagle Butte High School in Dunmore.

With continued enrollment growth at the school the division is looking to introduce their concept to the provincial government.

Boser said the school is in good shape with recent renovations in the past seven years, but they want to be able to accomodate future growth.

“We’re to the point now where we have to look at, some sort of expansion, for that particular school,” Boser said.

“The idea there is to try to get a facility expansion, supplement the classrooms and look at a second gymnasium as well.”

The division is also looking to merge the schools in Oyen into a kindergarten to Grade 12 school through either a consolidation and modernization or a new facility.

Boser sees lots of positives to combining Oyen Public School which is kindergarten to Grade 6 and South Central High School a Grade 7 to 12 facility.

“We see that as a benefit, not only for advocating to government because you create some efficiencies that way, but also just having all of your staff in one school allows you to share some of that expertise around,” Boser said.

“It’s easier, you know, you’re not having to walk from one school to the other, you’re all there in one facility. So you’re able to use resources better that way. So that makes sense,” he added.

“Our hope is that we will get some initial planning funding for that project. We would like to enter into a value scoping session which would ultimately be to look at which school would be the appropriate one to renovate and maybe expand or look at a third option which might be a complete replacement school as well.”

Replacement of the kindergarten to Grade 9 school in Burdett with a new facility is another project Prairie Rose hopes to get funding for.

“We’ve had a value scoping session done in the past. We’re a little bit ahead on that project. Our board of trustees is advocating for from that session is a replacement school,” Boser said.

“The hope is that with that one, we would get design funding over the next couple of years, and hopefully be able to move into that process.”

by Jesse Gill

Prairie Rose School Division hoping to see funding in next year’s Alberta budget for schools

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