INNISFAIL - Chinook’s Edge School Division (CESD) officials hope some of the new provincial school construction funding announced in recent weeks will go to help the division with priority projects, including modernization of Innisfail High School.
The government says $8.6 billion is being made available through the School Construction Accelerator Program, which officials say will create more than 200,000 new and modernized spaces for kindergarten to Grade 12 students over the next seven years.
The Innisfail-headquartered CESD has schools across the district.
CESD superintendent Kurt Sacher says the division has three top priority construction projects on its current wish list (in order of priority): a new high school in Sylvan Lake; modernization of the high school in Innisfail; and a new elementary school in Olds.
“I think the need is there for us for sure,” Sacher told the Albertan. “We’ve already sent a letter off from administration requesting that the government take a strong look at our capital plan.”
The division has not included cost estimates in its wish list, he noted.
Asked if the division is concerned that it may not be able to find enough teachers for the new and upgrade schools (if approved), he said no.
“We are optimistic because with a lot of it you move people you already have around. If we get additional student population, we will add teachers. We are still able to find quality teachers when we need additional teachers in this environment,” he said.
The division will be examining the government’s plans in more detail in the weeks ahead, he said.
“We are still in the process of making sense of it all, but generally speaking it looks very promising for us and we are really hoping to get some of these top priorities given due consideration,” he said.
CESD has been working closely with Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) and the Town of Sylvan Lake to get the new grades 9-12 high school in Sylvan Lake, he said.
In announcing the new funding, Minister of Education of Education Demetrios Nicolaides said, “We are investing in the future of our province. Through our commitment to kick-start 30 new schools each year over the next three years, we are delivering new student spaces across the province and in our fastest-growing communities for students to learn, grow and reach their full potential.”
Premier Smith said the government is “asking school board and municipalities to work with us so we can get shovels in the ground as quickly as possible.”
RDCRS, which has schools in Olds and Innisfail, issued a statement to the Albertan regarding the new funding.
Like CESD, the division’s highest priority project on its current three-year capital plan is a new high school in Sylvan Lake.
“This high school will become a hub to support our collegiate model of education by utilizing partnerships between school divisions, post-second institutions, community organizations, and industry to offer specialized programs that create clear pathways for students to transition successfully into post-secondary education, trades and skilled careers,” RDCRS chairman Murray Hollman said in the release.
“The $8.6 billion investment through the School Construction Accelerator Program is a welcome boost for communities like Sylvan Lake, where student populations are quickly outgrowing current facilities.
“This funding (if approved) will allow us to better serve our students by expanding our infrastructure, ensuring we meed the immediacy needs and plans for sustainable growth.”
The 46,000 members Alberta Teachers' Association says while the new funding for school construction is welcome, support for teachers and students remains inadequate.
“While this announcement promises to meet the future needs of students and teachers in Alberta, it leaves our education struggling to respond to enrolment and resource issues,” ATA president Jason Schilling said in a release.
“Chronic underfunding has left our schools and teachers in dire need, and we need to catch up before we can even think about going forward.”
