ATHABASCA – Aspen View Public Schools trustees voted to start the disposition process of Rochester School as the end of the 2024-25 school years nears.
In a unanimous decision, trustees directed their administration to start the process, which starts with offering the building to the province.
“It now says that Alberta Infrastructure and Alberta Education are offered the property before it's offered to any other parties,” said Amber Oko, the division’s Secretary Treasurer.
If the province passes on the property, the next potential buyer is Athabasca County, who would have the option to re-purchase the land, possibly to continue the library. Rochester’s library is one of three run by the Athabasca County Library Board and is located inside the school.
While this process happens, Aspen View will have to continue to pay the building's utility fees and other costs required to keep the school from falling into disrepair. Oko said further conversations were going to be required to figure out the details of what that all looks like.
“In my review of (the process) there’s no timeline,” said Oko.
In the meantime, AVPS will be looking at ways to reduce their operating costs on the building, including the possibility of only running heat and water to the sections of the building still in use.
“There’s a lot of alternatives we can look at, but until we get the letter in and kickstart that process, I’m not sure we’re going to get lots of information back. I know everybody has lots of questions,” said Oko.
AVPS made the final decision to close the school at the end of the 2024-25 school year at a Jan. 25, 2024 board meeting, after future viability studies showed the student population wasn’t going to meet required funding thresholds. At the time, Aspen View was facing a $400,000 deficit just in student operational funding, as well as additional costs to repair and maintain the building.
