Rocky View Schools (RVS) Division’s Board of Trustees approved the division’s Three Year Capital Plan March 20.
The plan, designated for 2015-2018, outlined RVS’ hunt for government approval of 11 new schools, three additions and two modernizations — including a revamp of Cochrane High School that would create more functional learning spaces for students.
According to the plan, these projects will total about $278 million.
“These are not ‘nice to have’ projects,” said Colleen Munro, board chair. “These are ‘need to have’ projects.”
A new K-8 school for Cochrane tops the list of proposed projects. Munro said the school would accommodate about 900 students.
While nothing has been decided in terms of location, Munro said it’s likely the new school would be constructed in the community of Fireside.
Following the Cochrane school, Munro said a K-8 school in Airdrie and a K-9 school in Chestermere round out the top three capital projects outlined by the plan. The school division opened six schools between 2014 and 2016, but utilization rates are continuing to increase. A media release from RVS estimated that, with a growth rate of 1100 students a year, the jurisdiction would hit a utilization rate of 102.3 per cent by 2018.
“Although we will open 4,300 new student spaces by 2016, we will need to open at least two new schools each year starting in 2017 to accommodate new students arriving on our doorstep,” said Munro.
She said that over the past six years, RVS has managed student growth in a number of ways, including making changes to grade configurations, relocating portables and selling off the Alberta Transportation Building. The revenue generated by selling the asset funded Herons Crossing, a K-5 school in Airdrie.
The Three Year Capital Plan also details a commitment to six renovation and small upgrading projects. Estimated to cost about $16.7 million, funding for the projects would be through monies held in a RVS reserve by Rocky View County. The plan for 2015-2018 can be viewed on the RVS website.
