INNISFAIL – Talks between the town and Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools are expected to occur sometime within the next year to move forward on a medium-term plan to build a new school.
The plan, which has been on the books for 17 years but rarely noticed or discussed since by local officials, was briefly raised during a housing presentation at town council’s Jan. 2 Agenda & Priorities Meeting.
In 2001 the Catholic school board, which had a pressing need at the time to create its first Innisfail school, identified an 11.1-acre site in an undeveloped area of north Innisfail. However, that plan became dormant for several years due to the school board’s subsequent acquisition of a large section of John Wilson Elementary School from Chinook’s Edge School Division that created St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School.
However, Ken Jaeger, supervisor of support services for the Red Deer Catholic school board, said the St. Marguerite option was intended as an "intermediate solution” for space in town with the board always looking ahead and planning for its own stand-alone facility.
"That (St. Marguerite option) was a solution in 2003 and put in place and is working very well for us. What is happening now is that we are getting quite full and we are continuing to see growth,” said Jaeger, adding he was pleased the town recently raised the future school site issue. "I am glad to hear the town has recognized and understood our need is still there and going forward. I really appreciate that from the town, planning on our behalf and keeping us in mind.”
Jaeger said his school board regularly looks at enrolment numbers and where they will be in the next five, six or seven years. He said the numbers for Innisfail have specifically increased over the past three years and the school board has elevated the priority for a new school in the town.
"We are basically going to outgrow our current space,” said Jaeger, adding the need for a new school in Innisfail has in recent years moved from a long-range plan of more than 10 years to a medium-range one of between five and 10 years.
The future Catholic school site was first identified 17 years ago in the North Area Structure Plan, and is located west of the C & E Trail and northeast of today’s Hazelwood Estates subdivision.
However, the deal was made between the Catholic school board and Chinook’s Edge to create St. Marguerite beginning in the 2003-04 school year. Innisfail’s first Catholic school building, which is still owned by Chinook’s Edge, now serves 340 students and 35 staff members from pre-kindergarten to Grade 9.
However, Jaeger said discussions for a new stand-alone school have taken place in recent years between the Catholic school board and the town, as well as with Chinook’s Edge, and more are being planned in the next year.
"I think we are good for the next three to five years where we are at, but probably in that five- to 10-year range we’re probably going to be looking for another school in Innisfail,” said Jaeger, adding Alberta Education is fully aware of its future plans for Innisfail. "Whether we build a second school and split, or whether we build one larger one and move all the students over, is yet to be determined. A lot will depend on how Chinook’s Edge enrolment is going as well.”
In the meantime, Mayor Jim Romane said the town has a "lot of homework to do” on the issue, noting the Catholic school board’s future plans are still "very preliminary” at this point.
"I will be interested in hearing what their plans are and what kind of schedule they are hoping for. I haven’t seen that,” said Romane. "We will definitely be in discussions with the school board.”
Ken Jaeger, supervisor of support services for Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools
"That (St. Marguerite option) was a solution in 2003 and put in place and is working very well for us. What is happening now is that we are getting quite full and we are continuing to see growth.We are basically going to outgrow our current space."
