INNISFAIL - The Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) board of trustees has approved the division’s new three-year capital plan, which includes a call for a new K-9 school in Innisfail.
The approval came during the board’s recent regularly scheduled meeting.
The capital plan is based on projected enrolments in the 10,400-student division, which includes schools in Olds and Innisfail.
The plan sets out five top priorities for the division (from first to fifth): a new Sylvan Lake High School, the modernization of Notre Dame school in Red Deer, a new Innisfail K-9 School, a new Sylvan Lake K-5 school, and a new K-5 school in Red Deer.
The division has been using space in the Chinook’s Edge School Division’s John Wilson Elementary School in Innisfail to accommodate RDCRS students. That arrangement is no longer keeping up with demand, promoting the calls for a new school.
“Innisfail is finally starting to realize population growth in the community, and we believe it is time to advocate for a Catholic school building rather than the temporary arrangement that was made when Catholic education began in the community,” RDCRS superintendent Kathleen Finnigan said in the capital plan.
“Chinook’s Edge gave up space in John Wilson Elementary. This created enough space for Catholic education to get started, but this arrangement has had challenges. When improvements are suggested to Chinook’s Edge, we find their funding has typically been allocated elsewhere in the division.
“Combine this with an enrolment projection that exceeds 100 per cent of the space we have been allocated, and we believe it is time to move to a building of our own.”
The plan would be to have the new K-9 Innisfail school occupied in September 2030.
The entire capital plan will now be forwarded to Alberta Education for consideration.
In her monthly report to the board, superintendent Finnigan updated trustees on a recent joint school council meeting attended by RDCRS and Alberta School Councils Association officials, as well as parents and other stakeholders.
“The session focused on supporting and enhancing student learning, understanding the role of school councils, and reviewing the legislative requirements outlined in Section 55 of the Education Act,” she said.
“Discussions emphasized the importance of parents understanding the board’s priorities and participating in various consultation opportunities, such as Alberta Education initiatives, diversity and inclusion efforts, reconciliation, and interpreting Alberta Education Assurance results within the school community.”
Trustees accepted Finnigan’s report as information.
