Could a new school in Athabasca be incorporated into the Athabasca Regional Multiplex?
It’s definitely a possibility, Aspen View Public Schools superintendent Brian LeMessurier confirmed.
“We will look at all options available to us, but that is one that makes a lot of sense,” he said.
“My understanding from speaking with people at Alberta Infrastructure is that this is becoming a more common model in Alberta. In Lac La Biche, they have the multi-use building and they are going to build a school onto it, so that they can maximize the use of the recreational facility and keep the cost of building the school down,” LeMessurier added.
“I’m really glad that is the case; combining (facilities) and maximizing the usage and not duplicating infrastructure makes a world of sense to me.”
Both Landing Trail Intermediate School (LTIS) and Edwin Parr Composite High School (EPC) are in need of major repairs, LeMessurier said.
Those repairs would cost upwards of $20 million, according to LeMessurier, which is one of the reasons why the school board is considering the option of applying for funding to build a new school. The building of a new school would depend on funding from the provincial government.
The superintendent said he believes a new school could cost around the same as renovations to LTIS and EPC.
“Rather than sinking between $25 and $30 million into two renos, we’re looking at the possibility of taking that money and trying to justify to the powers that be, that it would make more sense to build a two-pod new school,” LeMessurier said. “We’re going to try and keep the cost down by using some of the same facilities the community already has.”
The new school would combine LTIS and EPC under one roof. Whispering Hills Primary School would remain separate.
“What we envision if this model were to persist would be a school that would have the capacity to have a wing that’s for the middle school students,” he said. “There would be another wing for the secondary students, and they would both have their own uniqueness and they have their own programs, but at the same time they are perhaps connected by some of the facilities.”
LeMessurier said there are advantages to having a school with grades from 4-12.
“Older students who are starting certain career paths would be able to work with younger students,” he said. “It would provide a wide range of educational programs that high school students could take and actually work with younger children.”
EPC was built as a two-room schoolhouse in 1949. In 1950 two more rooms were added on. Further additions were made in 1955 and 1958, including what is known today as the junior high wing. In 1968 the gym, office and south wing were added, and in 1986 a modernization of the north wing was undertaken. The school has not received any renovations in 26 years.
LTIS was built in 1967 and has had no major renovations except for a modernization of the office area two years ago.
“It had a bit of a renovation, which was tearing four classrooms off it back in 1969 because they were sinking,” LeMessurier said. “They were condemned and were torn off.”
Whispering Hills Primary School (WHPS) is Athabasca’s newest school, built in 1991.
LeMessurier believes that Athabasca is growing, and Aspen View has to be ready.
“We have to be thinking forward and thinking about if this region prospers and continues to grow, we have to be in a situation where we can actually build this school, but also to add onto it at a future time,” he said. “Currently we have limited capacity.
“Landing Trail is on a piece of property that provides no opportunity to add on to it, and Edwin Parr is already stretched to have enough property there to have adequate athletic fields.”
LeMessurier said there are advantages to looking at an alternate location to build a school. The new school itself is still in the beginning stages. The school board has only recently made it their number-one priority.
LeMessurier said that community consultations would be part of the process later down the road.
