A new kindergarten to Grade 8 school in Airdrie’s Hillcrest community could be open for 2019 following news that construction could begin sooner than expected.
Rocky View Schools (RVS) did not place the new school in its 2016 budget year, as the school site was not anticipated to be ready.
“I’m very excited for this development. We do have a significant need for this school in Hillcrest,” Trustee Todd Brand said. “This is a much needed facility for our students.
“I’m pleased the City of Airdrie (was) able to get this site ready.”
According to RVS Director of Facility Planning Colette Winter, letters from both the City of Airdrie and Apex Development are expected by the end of January. Those letters are anticipated to contain a commitment of readiness for the building envelope portion of the school site.
The new school could open for 2019 if RVS is approved by the Province for funding in the next few months.
Trustees voted on Jan. 7 to amend the RVS 2016-19 capital plan to place the new Hillcrest school as the highest priority. Previously, the Hillcrest school was listed at priority seven on the plan, placing it in the 2017 budget year.
“The only reason it was number seven is that (the site) was not ready,” RVS Associate Superintendent of Business and Operations Darrell Couture said. “It would’ve been much higher on our capital plan, probably number one (if the site had been ready).”
Two new schools are set to open in Airdrie in September 2016, Cooper’s Crossing School – a kindergarten to Grade 4 school – and H. Lorimer School – a kindergarten to Grade 8 school. An additional kindergarten to Grade 8 school in the Windsong community is set to open in September 2017.
“I didn’t know we could change our capital plan given the fact that this has already been discussed, (but) I really appreciate that people recognize the growth in Airdrie,” Trustee Sylvia Eggerer said. “I’m glad that the City of Airdrie is able to get this going and we’re recognized as the growing community and growing school division that we are.”
Upcoming consultation
Another round of community consultation will take place in late January as RVS revises student accommodation plans with new schools set to open and others seeing revisions to grade structures.
Revised accommodation plans for schools on the west side of Airdrie will affect the school communities of Cooper’s Crossing School, A.E. Bowers Elementary School, Muriel Clayton Middle School and the new Windsong school set to open September 2017.
Additionally, changes to Herons Crossing School will allow the grade structure to expand to kindergarten to Grade 8. Consultation will focus on how best to implement the grade increase.
“It’s a big time commitment for our administration to go out and talk with the community and gather info. I was really pleased with how last year’s process went. It influenced the decisions that were made at this table,” Brand said. “I’m glad to see we are continuing to do that this year.”
