An application to transform the doomed Benalto School into a chartered learning institution has been delivered to Alberta Education Minister David Eggen.
The application's delivery came a day after a Chinook's Edge School Division board meeting on May 11 that formally began the decommissioning of the 78-year-old learning institution in the hamlet 13 kilometres west of Sylvan Lake.
Following an intensive two-year study, which included determined community lobbying and research, the board, convinced it was not financially viable to keep the school open, voted in favour of its closure on April 6. The school's official last day is June 30.
And while the fight by Benalto citizens is still on to save their school, the Chinook's Edge school board was also told on May 11 the division will put the school out for tender by either the end of this month or in early June, unless interest is expressed by a non-profit group, community association or municipality to acquire it. Both processes require provincial ministry approval.
In the meantime, Benalto parents, undeterred by the board's April 6 closure vote, have been working aggressively on the charted school option to save their beloved institution.
“We are driving it to Edmonton tomorrow (May 12) to personally hand it to David Eggen. It is all done. Everything is ready to roll, the whole application,” said Carol Rambaut, the community member of the Benalto Review Committee, who attended the board meeting. She said the community's resolve never wavered, despite the setback on April 6. “It's very strong, obviously. In just one month since our website has been up and running, we have 34 children registered from Grade 1 to Grade 6 and six children in kindergarten.
“We are still going to keep advertising and get more students in. We are projecting 50 students for next year,” she added.
She said it will take two months for provincial education officials to review their application and Benalto citizens should know by early July if they are successful.
If the application is approved, the Benalto School would become the 14th chartered school in Alberta. Chartered schools, which were created by the province in 1994, are independently operated non-profit institutions that are publicly funding through Alberta Education and are accountable to meet student achievement goals set by provincial guidelines and policies.
School board officials said the Benalto committee plan is an issue that is entirely in the hands of the provincial government.
“There has been nothing formal given to us about that,” said Kurt Sacher, superintendent for schools. “I personally as superintendent have heard wind that something like that is in the works and they are free to pursue that. It is a provincial thing.”
In the meantime, the board passed a motion at its May 11 meeting to start the process of “disposing” Benalto School property. Senior administrative officials made presentations on the division's transition strategy for the school and the community, which included talking to staff and community members, working with Sylvan Lake's C.P. Blakely Elementary School for the transfer of Benalto students, and future busing issues. As well, the board was told about the strategy for the decommissioning of the building, which included plans for the assets of the library, classrooms and memorabilia, as well as the placement of a Dumpster at the site to dispose of any waste.
“Our number 1 priority is to make sure we look after our staff and that we have the smoothest transition as possible for our kids. Our staff will all be looked after,” said Lissa Steele, Chinook's Edge's associate superintendent of learning services. She told the board three of the four staff members at Benalto School have accepted jobs at Sylvan Lake's C.P. Blakely Elementary School, while the fourth is still considering the board offer. As for the students, she said the board is also working with the Sylvan Lake school to give the kids an opportunity to see what the school looks like and to meet with teachers.
“We need to know where our kids are going to go. We need to know where our staff is going to go, and we need to know they are comfortable moving forward,” she added.
But Rambaut said too much was happening too soon by the board and said the board's transition plan must be handled with sensitivity, noting the idea of a Dumpster being put at the school site could be upsetting for students. “The children are going to notice if things are missing. It is going to be very obvious. The teachers should not be doing that anyway,” she said. “They should be focusing on those kids for the next six weeks, giving them a good education and making them feel as happy and secure as they can because those kids are not. They are still very upset, as are all the parents in the community.”
Sacher said he told Rambaut he would review whether a Dumpster on site would be required at this time and that he would try to minimize “anxiety” in the transition while still preparing for June 30.
“We did get a couple of concerns relayed by parents that I promised to follow up on to make sure we are doing everything possible to make the transition appropriate,” said Sacher. “It is a difficult time for the community, for sure.”
Carol Rambaut, the community member of the Benalto Review Committee
"It is all done. Everything is ready to roll, the whole application. In just one month since our website has been up and running we have 34 children registered from Grade 1 to Grade 6 and six children in kindergarten."
