Rocky View Schools (RVS) board of trustees voted to approve the 2014 to 2017 Capital Plan and directed superintendent Greg Bass to submit the plan to Alberta Education, April 11.
The plan was passed in a five to two vote with Trustee Sylvia Eggerer and Trustee Don Thomas opposing the motion.
Much of the debate surrounded the prioritizing of the 21 capital projects proposed in the three-year plan.
“Even though (the plan) is supposed to identify needs, I feel like it becomes more of a wish list,” said Trustee Helen Clease of the projects listed.
Thomas said he felt the “wish list” is giving false hope to communities.
“I’m not sure I can support the motion as it exists because it’s unrealistic,” he said.
He said he felt the plan was asking for the “moon and the sky” and he’d rather ask for things that have a reasonable chance of being approved.
Thomas also said the past decisions from the Province suggests only a few of the projects will be given the go ahead.
Eggerer said she was concerned that by including alternative RVS-funded projects in the plan, the Province will not get an accurate sense of the school space needed in the division.
“It may look like we have enough space when we don’t,” she said.
The top three projects on the list include: a new kindergarten to Grade 8 school in Cochrane, a new Airdrie school on the west side for kindergarten to Grade 4 and a new east side kindergarten to Grade 5 school also in Airdrie. All three facilities, if approved, would be scheduled to open in 2016.
However, the project in the fifth position on the list is a 1,500-square-foot addition to the Beiseker School that will be completed with RVS funding.
Eggerer said she is not opposed to the project or the need for it but is worried the priority on the list may cause the government to underestimate the need for the new facility projects listed below it.
Several trustees noted it is unlikely for provincial approval to be given to items beyond number five on the list The last provincial approval the 2011 to 2014 plan, approved the top three capital projects.
All projects that add space and capacity to the RVS inventory, regardless of where funding is coming from must be included in the plan, according to RVS director of planning John Wheatly.
