Rocky View Schools (RVS) is facing a big discussion about where nine new modular classrooms should be placed within the division that has schools bursting at its seams.
Alberta Education recently approved nine new modular units and a relocation, which is a far cry from the original request made by RVS on Nov. 2.That request included 22 new modular classrooms, 12 classroom relocations, and one washroom relocation. This would have added units to 11 RVS schools, instead of just two.
“In all cases where we were asking to put them were schools that were at 100 per cent [capacity] next year or the year after,” said RVS Superintendent Greg Luterbach at the recent RVS Board of Trustees meeting. “This isn’t a wishlist, this isn’t about it being nice to have… These are about schools that are at 100 per cent and in high need of additional temporary space until new schools are built in the community.”
Their capital plan shows that RVS has over 400 modular classrooms, which equates to about one in three students being taught in a modular classroom.
A letter from Alberta Education on March 14 approved six new modular classrooms at Northcott Prairie School in Airdrie and three at Fireside School in Cochrane. A washroom unit from Airdrie’s Herons School was approved to be relocated to Northcott Prairie School.
“Now we have to go back and figure out where best to put those nine, and the government has been willing to entertain that conversation and adjust the list based on what school divisions have felt to be the highest need,” Luterbach said.
RVS administration plans to review the approvals and consider asking to alter the final locations for the new and relocated units as per the accommodation pressures, new enrolment projections, and the outcome of the Balancing Airdrie Student Spaces consultation.
Ward 3 Trustee Melyssa Bowen said it's disappointing to see the province approve only ten units, including the relocation. Modular classrooms previously needed in Langdon and Indus are now underutilized due to the opening of Langdon’s Horseshoe Crossing High School, she said. Bowen questioned why those units aren’t being relocated to schools that desperately need the space.
“I would like us to consider, as a board, putting that question back to the government and asking why are you not willing to fund the move of these modulars that we know are going to be sitting empty in our division that desperately needs space?” she questioned.
Ward 4 Trustee Norma Lang agreed with Bowen. She questioned why they wouldn’t be allowed to move eight modular classrooms from Langdon, two from Indus, and two from the province to schools that need more space.
Ward 3 Trustee Fred Burley then asked about the difference in cost between a new modular unit and moving one.
While RVS doesn’t procure modular units, Luterbach speculated that a new unit costs around $450,000 to buy and set up, while moving one would cost around $250,000.
Luterbach said relocation would better utilize empty units but it wouldn’t add student space to RVS.
Burley questioned if RVS could turn down two units for Northcott Prairie and instead move four underutilized units from schools in the east.
“I think that is the conversation we’re going to have to have,” Luterbach said.
An approval to change the request requires some time. According to Luterbach, units typically don’t arrive until well into the new school year and expects them to be in service by Remembrance Day.
The province will pay for 100 per cent of the "reasonable costs" to deliver and set up each classroom, but the construction of any link, if required, will be at the expense of the school division. RVS must maintain and insure all modular units.
Aside from what was approved, the initial request included two relocations to A.E. Bowers in Airdrie, two new units at Herons Crossing in Airdrie, four relocations to Chestermere High, two relocations and surplus units to George McDougall in Airdrie, one new unit and surplus unit to Cochrane High, two relocations to Cochrane Christian Academy, two relocations to Springbank Middle, two new units to W.G. Murdoch in Crossfield, and eight new units to W.H. Croxford in Airdrie.
