Rocky View Schools (RVS) representatives met with parents and community members on April 24 to present the proposed attendance area alternatives for two new Airdrie schools set to open in September 2014. The meeting brought about 65 people to the RVS Education Centre meeting room.
“The purpose of the consultation is to find out what your priorities are,” said John Wheatley, director of facility planning for RVS, although he added the final decision is ultimately up to the board of trustees.
The alternatives presented were created with consideration of the feedback from 273 individuals who participated in two online RVS surveys.
Since Jan. 30, RVS has solicited feedback from the online surveys and public meetings to help shape the new schools attendance areas in order to populate the new schools and ease overcrowding in existing schools.
The issue of overcrowding was front and centre at the April 24 meeting with several parents questioning the two alternatives presented for the Grade 9 to 12 school.
“I’m concerned about the numbers in the high schools,” said parent Stella Randell.
She added she would like to see the Bert Church High School population more evened out between the three schools to alleviate some of the pressure at Bert Church, which will remain near capacity in both purposed alternatives.
Option A for the new high school would have the school opening with some Grade 11 and 12 programs offered to accommodate students moving into the new attendance area as well as allowing students already living in the area the option to attend the new school.
Whereas Option B for the high school is to open with only grades 9 and 10 and adding Grade 11 in 2015 and Grade 12 in 2016. Grade 11 and 12 students that move to the new attendance area will be directed to Bert Church and George McDougall High School.
Both options will have Muriel Clayton Middle School students advance to the new high school facility and students from the new middle school and Meadowbrook Middle School will advance to Bert Church.
Both these options have Bert Church High School running at close to its 1,200-student capacity with a projected 945 students in 2014, while George McDougall is projected at 434 and the new high school at 647.
Wheatley suggested parents look to the long term to see how the schools will even out.
“We are growing into the new high school,” he said.
Wheatley added the three high schools will complement each other and allow students to go to other schools for a specific program for an afternoon or a few days a week.
“We don’t consider ourself (RVS) a bunch of separate schools,” he said. “We are one big community operation.”
RVS Superintendent of Schools Greg Bass told parents RVS tends to stay away from the larger-population-style high schools.
“Small schools have a different culture and a different feel,” he said, adding there is less need for policing in the smaller-style schools.
Devon Blower, who has one child in Ralph McCall and one in Bert Church, attended the meeting because her children might be affected by the change.
“For me, the options are viable,” she said of the possibilities for both the new high school and new middle school.
Option A for the new middle school will see the Herons Crossing attendance area include current residents and receive students from Prairie Springs. Students from Herons Crossing School and Ralph McCall School will advance to the new middle school. Ralph McCall will become a kindergarten to Grade 4 school. Nose Creek Elementary School students will attend Muriel Clayton and Grade 8 Prairie Springs residents will attend the new high school.
Option B will look identical to Option A except Herons Crossing attendance area will include current residents and receive Windsong residents instead of Prairie Springs. Grade 8 students from Windsong would advance to the new high school.
In the third option, Herons Crossing becomes a kindergarten to Grade 3 school and receives Prairie Springs, Windsong and its current residents in the attendance area. Ralph McCall and Herons Crossing students would advance to the new middle school, Nose Creek students move on to Muriel Clayton and Grade 8 Prairie Springs and Windsong students head to the new high school.
The final option for the new middle school again has Herons Crossing becoming a kindergarten to Grade 3 school and receiving Prairie Springs, Windsong and its current attendance area. However, Herons Crossing and A.E. Bowers students will advance to Muriel Clayton and Ralph McCall and Nose Creek students will advance to the new school. Grade 8 Herons Crossing students advance to Bert Church and Grade 8 Prairie Springs, Windsong and Nose Creek students will head to the new high school.
Wheatley told parents RVS supports some level of choice in the process.
“Choice is expensive, but we will try and provide some choice,” he said.
The next step in the process is for community members is to complete another online survey that is open until May 8. The survey can be accessed at www.rockyview.ab.ca under “Quick Links/Attendance Area Consultation.”
Residents wishing to share their position with the board can make a delegation presentation to the trustees on May 28 and procedures can be found by searching “delegation presentation” on the RVS website listed above.
