Chinook's Edge School Division officials are encouraging parents and others to provide input and comments on the future of the Benalto Elementary School at an open house on March 3.
Input collected at the meeting will be compiled and submitted to the Chinook's Edge board on April 6, at which time trustees will make a final decision on the future of the school.
“We've been working with a planning committee for a number of months now and this meeting will be the last opportunity before the board meets on April 6 for parents and community members to give input on a number of those key areas that they (trustees) will want to take feedback on,” said Chinook's Edge superintendent Kurt Sacher.
“The main approach on March 3 will be that we will go into small groups with a facilitator at each table to listen to every single person who attends and wants to provide input. That is what will go directly to the board on April 6. That input will definitely be important to them.”
There are currently 21 students at the school, with 16 from the Benalto area, two from Spruce View and three from Sylvan Lake.
In 2010 there were 49 students, 52 in 2011, 51 in 2012, 41 in 2013, 39 in 2014, and 27 in 2015.
Declining enrolment at the school has created a situation where Benalto is now by far the most expensive school in the division in terms of cost per student.
In the 2015-16 school year, $15,918.30 will be spent by the division for every student in the school. That compares with an overall division average cost per student of about $8,000.
The March 3 open house is the culmination of work and study by a school review committee regarding the future viability of the Benalto school.
In accordance with Alberta Education guidelines, the March 3 meeting will give those in attendance a chance to provide input on a number of questions, including:
• what might be the educational and financial advantages if the school were to remain open?
• What do we need to consider if Benalto students were to attend another school in the division?
• If Benalto school were to close, what would the board consider in terms of attendance areas? What busing considerations should be in place to meet the transportation needs of families and students?
• What are the potential uses of the school building if all education programming is moved to another site in Chinook's Edge?
• What might be the educational impacts for your child if the school were to close? What might be the social and financial impacts to you and your community?
The decision to examine the viability of the school was made in October 2013.
The school review committee has considered a number of things when examining the viability of Benalto school, including student access to quality basic education programming, the economic viability of the school, utilization of school buildings, proximity of other schools relative to busing, enrolment trends, and population demographics in the local community.
Anyone unable to attend the March 3 meeting will be given a chance to have input in writing up to March 24 through the school division.
At its Oct. 7 board meeting, trustees gave direction to the superintendent to begin the school closure process in accordance with current board policy.
The superintendent is expected to present a report on the matter at the April 6 meeting.
More information on the Benalto school issue is available on the Chinook's Edge website.
The Benalto school first opened in 1938. It is located southwest of Sylvan Lake.
"That input will definitely be important to them (trustees)."Kurt Sachersuperindendent
